Single Idea 18018

[catalogued under 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 4. Structure of Concepts / b. Analysis of concepts]

Full Idea

Is it a necessary condition on possessing the concepts of 'two' and 'green' that one does not believe that two is green? I think this claim is false.

Gist of Idea

To grasp 'two' and 'green', must you know that two is not green?

Source

Ofra Magidor (Category Mistakes [2013], 3.4)

Book Reference

Magidor,Ofra: 'Category Mistakes' [OUP 2013], p.61


A Reaction

To see that it is false one only has to consider much more sophisticated concepts, which are grasped without knowing their full implications. I might think two is green because I fully grasp 'two', but have not yet mastered 'green'.