Intelligibility and conceptual schemes

Abstract

The article treats Davidson’s consi derations on conceptual schema- tism. The first part examines his general position. It includes remarks about the dualism of scheme and reality, about abandoning empiricism and re-establishing immediate touch with the world by linguistic means, and it suggests that we should, following prof. Davidson’s position, aban- don not only the idea of differing schemes, but as well the idea of a single scheme. The second part discusses his main thesis, the assertion that intel- ligibility implies having the same conceptual scheme. It is argued that the bounds of intelligibility are at the same time the bounds of our notion of rationality. And lastly, it denies that vicious circle of ascribing beliefs and understanding of sentences may be settled by general agreement of be- liefs, and claims that a relativist treats aliens more charitably.