Philosophical Grammar 53

53. Is the word “red” enough to enable one to look for something red? Does one need a memory image to do so?

An order. Is the real order “Do now what you remember doing then?”

If the colour sample appears darker than I remember it being yesterday, I need not agree with my memory.

is the word ‘red’ enough to enable me to look for something red? Does one need a memory image to do so?

‘red’ as with any other word – is an open concept – defined – or given application by practice – by use

the logic of ‘red’ – just is the class of propositional actions that we have learned in relation to the use of the word –

what we are talking about here is logical action –

a memory image may or may not accompany such action –

it’s an accessory – perhaps useful in certain circumstances – but not logically necessary

the issue is not memory – but rather the application of a propositional practise –

the matter is logical – not imaginary

‘do now what you remember doing then’ –

this statement like memory itself – is really an accessory –

let us say for example that the statement that this statement is actually referring to is –

‘go and do the shopping’ –

there is no question of memory –

and yes you could obfuscate the matter by using the first statement –

but that is really only to demonstrate your expertise in irrelevancy

if the colour sample appears darker than I remember it being yesterday, I need not agree with my memory –

if I recognize the colour sample as red – whether it agrees with a memory of yesterday or not – is irrelevant

and ‘recognition’ here – is application –

and application is a logical action

© greg t. charlton. 2014.