From: Paul Turner (paul@turnerbc.co.uk)
Date: Tue Sep 06 2005 - 11:27:50 BST
Scott,
>Paul said:
>Well, I don't think you've 'proved' that values are necessarily
>concepts just yet.
>
>Scott:
>Well, strictly speaking I am saying that concepts are necessary to value,
>and therefore real at all levels. But of course, this is not 'proven', but
>then the MOQ isn't 'proven' either.
Paul: Of course, that's why I wrote 'proved' and not proved.
>What I am trying to point out is that language depends on essences, that
>is,
>universals, the meanings of words. The universalist/nominalist debates of
>the Middle Ages were about whether essences were real beyond their usage in
>human language. So what I am first saying is the obvious point that value
>(meaning) in human language clearly depends on essences, though in this
>context, essences are usually called concepts. In this context, the value
>of
>a word depends on its manifesting a concept, and the value of a concept
>depends on its being manifested by a word. Thus the existent (a particular
>speech act) depends on the essent (more accurately, a network of essences),
>and the value of the essent requires the existent. As I say, within human
>language, this is obvious.
Paul: Firstly, I don't see how an essent that necessarily depends on
something else can be meaningfully called an essent. I thought the whole
point of an essent was that it was non-relational.
Secondly, in Derridean terms you seem to be saying there is a signified
(concept) waiting for a signifier (word) for its expression. However, if
you want to be a thoroughgoing 'differentialist' i.e. one who completely
rejects the principle of self-identity, then signifier and signified cannot
form the unity you seem to refer to. Instead there is an ongoing process of
signification - differance. This seems to contradict your position as
stated above, yet you claim consistency with the differential mysticism of
Magliola.
However, I can hear the sound of Nishida approaching.... :-)
Regards,
Paul
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