47. We say that a red label is
the primary sign for the colour red, and that the word a secondary sign. – But
must a Frenchman have a red image present to his mind when he understands my
explanation “red = rouge”?
a red label – the primary sign
for the colour red – and a secondary sign?
‘a red label’ – is a description
– is a proposal – spoken – made public or not
‘the colour red’ – is a
description – is a proposal – made public or not
and the word – presumably ‘red’ –
is a description – again a proposal
– and it seems in this case – spoken – made public
so the label for the colour red –
and the word
this is an analysis – of
propositional description –
one description – then described
– modified even – and then another description – another modification
in the end what we have is a
description – a proposal –
and it can be analysed –
‘explained’ – in terms of similar
- if not effectively identical descriptions – proposals
as to the origin of the
proposal(s) – that will be a subject for propositional argument
if we ask why ‘red’ is used as it
is –
we will be involved in
metaphysical and epistemological debate –
propositional argument
the fact of usage – is open to
question – open to doubt –
what remains – and the reason for
such discussion –
is the usage
–
language as used is the subject
of philosophical argument
and philosophical argument itself
is a form of usage
as to the Frenchman –
“red = rouge” – is a translation –
a grammatical or logical operation –
whether he has an ‘image’ – that is
to day uses the description ‘red image’ – or not –
while translating –
is neither here nor there –
it’s irrelevant
© greg t. charlton. 2014.
