Philosophical Grammar 111

111. It is the calculus of thought that connects with extra-mental reality. From expectation to fulfillment is a step in a calculation.

‘extra-mental reality’?

this is a proposal – a proposition – a description – of reality –

the underlying or assumed proposal describes reality in terms of mental and extra-mental –

and if you accept such a description – you think in terms of reality being some combination of radically different ontologies –

radically different descriptions

let’s take a step back here –

reality in the absence of any description is unknown –

we propose to make known –

and any description we operate with can be accounted for – ‘explained’ – in terms of complex propositional histories –

and philosophers have developed these propositional histories

these complex descriptions – like any proposal – are open to question – to doubt –

uncertain

nevertheless – for one reason or another a description such as ‘extra –mental reality’ has a currency – has use

‘a calculus of thought’ –

if you have reason to describe your propositions – or a set of your propositions with the description ‘calculus of thought – all to the good

as to connecting ‘the calculus of thought with extra-mental reality’ –

this a proposal – and how it is argued will determine it’s fate –

the logical reality is – the argument goes on

‘From expectation to fulfillment is a step in a calculation’?

‘a step in a calculation’?

that is one way of seeing it – of describing it – explaining it –

and in certain contexts – it may be quite useful –

however what we are trying to do here is to cover the unknown –

explain the relation between two events if you like – expectation and fulfillment –

two proposals – two descriptions –

in practice it becomes a question of context – what proposals are seen to work in what contexts –

that is the way of things –

however let’s not get ahead of ourselves – and take our proposals too seriously –

all we are dealing with is propositions – descriptions – open to question – to doubt – in the end uncertain –

you use what works for you – where it works for you –

and regardless of any propositional baggage you carry –

or might be expected to carry – and indeed to unpack –

there is always a question

© greg t. charlton. 2015.