Philosophical Grammar 47

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.