Answers Quote by Willard Van Orman Quine
“How are we to adjudicate among rival ontologies? Certainly the answer is not provided by the semantical formula "To be is to be the value of a variable"; this formula serves rather, conversely, in testing the conformity of a given remark or doctrine to a prior ontological standard.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Philosophy of Logic, Willard Van Orman Quine, 1970
Ontological disputes require standards beyond mere definitions; testing conformity to a prior framework reveals deeper commitments.
In simple terms: We need standards to judge different worldviews.
Key Takeaway
Use criteria to evaluate philosophical claims.
Themes
ontology
philosophy
logic
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
academic
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- policy analysis
- ethical reasoning
- theoretical research
Key Concepts
semantic theory
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria should guide ontological judgments?
- Can standards be truly neutral?
A Different Perspective
Rigid standards may stifle novel perspectives.
![“Some have said that the thesis [of indeterminacy] is a consequence of my behaviorism. Some have said that it is a reductio ad absurdum of my behaviorism. I disagree with this second point, but I agree with the first. I hold further that the behaviorism approach is mandatory. In psychology one may…” quote by Willard Van Orman Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3e0/willard-van-orman-quine-10137_ads_some-have-said-that-the-thesis-of-indete_315688.jpg)
