FRESHMAN SEMINAR IN PHILOSOPHY: RELATIVISM
PHIL 150W, Sec. 01: TTh 9:30am-10:50am in Blair 142
PHIL 150W, Sec. 02: TTh 11am-12:20pm in Blair 142
The College of William and Mary
Spring 2003
Instructor: James Woodbridge
email address: jawoo2@wm.edu
Course Webpage: http://fsweb.wm.edu/jawoo2/wm/150w.htm
Office Hours: T 3:30pm-5pm, W 10:30am-12pm, and by appointment
Office: 126 Blair Hall
Office Phone: 221-2713
Dept. Phone: 221-2735
RESPONSE ESSAY 3
In Section 4 (pp. 125-129) of "On Rightness of Rendering," Chapter VII in Ways of Worldmaking, Nelson Goodman discusses "standards of rightness" beyond that of truth.
In particular, he discusses inductive rightness, and the way it depends on categorization (Note--the color categories "grue" and "bleen" can be explained in terms of our
color categories "green" and "blue" as follows: Something is grue if it is green if examined before some time t and otherwise blue; something is bleen if it is blue if examined
before time t and otherwise green. Consider, however, the bottom of p. 128.)
Write a 2-page paper reacting to the material presented in this section.
Aim to do the following sorts of things (not necessarily in this order--some of these suggestions overlap):
- In your own words, characterize as clearly as you can what Goodman says inductive rightness is, what categorization is, and how the former depends on the latter.
How do Goodman's views here fit into his larger view?
- Explain the understanding of categorization presented here and relate it to other views we have considered. How relativistic is Goodman's view on this issue?
- Analyze the discussion--How stringent a standard does Goodman want to provide for the notion of right induction? Does his view of categorization provide the sort of standard he is after? Why or why not?
- Evaluate the position--Do you think Goodman's view on categorization is right? Explain why or why not.
- Identify further questions that can be raised about the points at issue here, in light of your assessment of what is said in this section.
Be sure to look at my Paper Requirements and Policies.
Keep your paper within the 2-page limit!
Your paper is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, February 25th.