The Oxford Museum of Natural History
This week's thought experiment brings us back to a familiar theme of identity, but it was used in a way that introduced an important logical concept to the study of philosophy.
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Barbara and Wally jumped into the taxi at Oxford station. "We're in a hurry," said Barbara. "We've just done London and are heading to Stratford-upon-Avon this afternoon. So please could you just show us the university and then bring us back to the station."
The taxi driver smiled to himself, set the meter running and looked forward to receiving a big fare.
He took them all round the city. He showed them the Ashmolean and Pitt Rivers museums, as well as the botanic gardens and the museums of natural history and the history of science. His tour took in not only the famous Bodleian library, but the lesser known Radcliffe, Sackler, and Taylor libraries too. He showed them all thirty-nine colleges as well as the seven permanent private halls. When he finally pulled up at the station, the meter showed a fare of £64.30.
"Sir, you are a fraud!" protested Wally. "You showed us the colleges, the libraries, and the museums. But damn you, we wanted to see the university!"
"But the university is the colleges, libraries, and museums!" replied the indignant cabbie.
"You expect us to fall for that?" said Barbara. "Just because we're American tourists doesn't mean we're stupid!"
Source: Chapter 1 of The Concept of Mind by Gilbert Ryle, 1949.
Baggini, J., The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten, 2005, p. 145.
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Besides the sadness of having to rush over Europe on a typical American holiday, can you identify the new type of error being described here? I'll be back on Friday to talk about it and why it matters to other age-old problems as well.
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Barbara and Wally jumped into the taxi at Oxford station. "We're in a hurry," said Barbara. "We've just done London and are heading to Stratford-upon-Avon this afternoon. So please could you just show us the university and then bring us back to the station."
The taxi driver smiled to himself, set the meter running and looked forward to receiving a big fare.
He took them all round the city. He showed them the Ashmolean and Pitt Rivers museums, as well as the botanic gardens and the museums of natural history and the history of science. His tour took in not only the famous Bodleian library, but the lesser known Radcliffe, Sackler, and Taylor libraries too. He showed them all thirty-nine colleges as well as the seven permanent private halls. When he finally pulled up at the station, the meter showed a fare of £64.30.
"Sir, you are a fraud!" protested Wally. "You showed us the colleges, the libraries, and the museums. But damn you, we wanted to see the university!"
"But the university is the colleges, libraries, and museums!" replied the indignant cabbie.
"You expect us to fall for that?" said Barbara. "Just because we're American tourists doesn't mean we're stupid!"
Source: Chapter 1 of The Concept of Mind by Gilbert Ryle, 1949.
Baggini, J., The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten, 2005, p. 145.
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Besides the sadness of having to rush over Europe on a typical American holiday, can you identify the new type of error being described here? I'll be back on Friday to talk about it and why it matters to other age-old problems as well.
