or are they arbitrary arrangements we fashion in our linguistic communities?
2007-01-19 12:39:58 · 4 answers · asked by -.- 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_kind
2007-01-19 12:47:09 · update #1
I would be frustrated too, if I didn't know how to follow a link to wikipedia, i.e. general knowledge.
2007-01-19 12:59:17 · update #2
Well, it's not a concept I'd heard of before, but going by the definition given in the wikipedia link then yes I'd say they do exist. If we're defining a natural kind as a set of things that haven't 'arbitrarily' been lumped together by a person or group of people, then there's plenty of things that could form such a set based on logical principles. If the logical principles are sound then it's not arbitrary. For example if you look at the set of integers from 1 to 100, this is a well defined set and there are perfectly logical reasons for determining what's in the set and what isn't. You can alter the culture and language surrounding it as much as you like, but that set will remain the same. So by definition it's a natural kind.
2007-01-19 13:23:42 · answer #1 · answered by Groucho Returns 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Herd of zebras?
That's an example of a question that was taken to such a degree that it borders on sheer stupidity. Not yours. The entire concept.
It's nothing more than a drunken freshman trying to sound deep so he can get laid by the waitress who really doesn't give a sh*t.
2007-01-19 12:54:15 · answer #2 · answered by randkl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do natural what kinds exist?
2007-01-19 12:47:36 · answer #3 · answered by profoundlysignificant 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Uh, what?
2007-01-19 12:42:17 · answer #4 · answered by Voodoid 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋