Cognitivism, Significance and Singular Thought

Bibliographic Data

ID4352123
AuthorsRachel Goodman (0000-0002-4360-4344, University of Leeds, corresponding author)
Year2016
Volume66
Issue263
Pages236-260
Publication date2016-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Philosophical Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0031-8094 • E-ISSN: 1467-9213
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/pq/pqv074
OpenAlexW2309782005
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited20

This paper has a narrow and a broader target. The narrow target is a particular version of what I call the mental-files conception of singular thought (MFC), proposed by Robin Jeshion, and known as cognitivism . The broader target is the MFC in general. I give an argument against Jeshion's view, which gives us preliminary reason to reject the MFC more broadly. I argue Jeshion's theory of singular thought should be rejected because the central connection she makes between significance and singularity does not hold. However, my argument grants Jeshion's claim that there is a connection between significance and file-thinking (for some kinds of files). The upshot is not only that we have reason to reject Jeshion's significance constraint on singular thought, but that we have reason to question the connection made by MFC proponents between file-thinking and singularity.

Argument (complex analysis) · Cognition · Cognitivism (psychology) · Connection (principal bundle) · Constraint (computer-aided design) · Epistemology · Geometry · Singularity · Computer Science · Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics · Mathematics · Philosophy · Philosophy and Theoretical Science · Psychology · Quantum Mechanics and Applications