Donald Davidson Quotes

#1. Even if someone knew the entire physical history of the world, and every mental event were identical with a physical, it would notfollow that he could predict or explain a single mental event (so described, of course).

Donald Davidson

#2. If we cannot find a way to interpret the utterances and other behaviour of a creature as revealing a set of beliefs largely consistent and true by our own standards, we have no reason to count that creature as rational, as having beliefs, or as saying anything.

Donald Davidson

#3. The aim of interpretation is not agreement but understanding

Donald Davidson

#4. Nothing in the world, no object or event, would be true or false if there were not thinking creatures.

Donald Davidson

#5. Mental events such as perceivings, rememberings, decisions, and actions resist capture in the net of physical theory.

Donald Davidson

#6. Terminological infelicities have a way of breeding conceptual confusion.

Donald Davidson

#7. Conceptual relativism is a heady and exotic doctrine, or would be if we could make good sense of it. The trouble is, as so often in philosophy, it is hard to improve intelligibility while retaining the excitement.

Donald Davidson