The relation between language, cognition and reality II

Abstract

In Chapter 5 I argued that a description of a thing is always put forward in a particular situation, i.e. with regard to particular purposes, interests, conditions of observation and a limited set of relevant description, i.e. a logical space of descriptions, which defines its meaning and relative to which its truth may be determined. Thus, an everyday description of a particular things or substance, say, the water in the jug on the kitchen table, is put forward with regard to everyday considerations and relevant implications and correct applications of descriptions of water in everyday situations (e.g. water is the kind of transparent, fluid stuff which may be used for making tea), whereas a scientific, say, a chemical description of the same substance in terms of H₂O, is put forward with regard to the possibilities of observation, descriptive system and relevant procedures for determining its truth in scientific, chemical situations.