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  • An Interview with Donald Davidson

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    PRINTED FROM OXFORD SCHOLARSHIP ONLINE (www.oxfordscholarship.com). (c) Copyright Oxford University Press, 2014.All Rights Reserved. Under the terms of the l icence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single chapter of amonograph in OSO for personal use (for details see http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/page/privacy-policy). Subscriber: UniversidadNacional Autonoma de Mexico %28UNAM%29; date: 07 April 2014

    UniversityPressScholarshipOnlineOxfordScholarshipOnline

    ProblemsofRationalityDonaldDavidson

    Printpublicationdate:2004PrintISBN-13:9780198237549PublishedtoOxfordScholarshipOnline:August2004DOI:10.1093/0198237545.001.0001

    AnInterviewwithDonaldDavidsonDonaldDavidson

    DOI:10.1093/0198237545.003.0015

    AbstractandKeywords

    ThelastchapterisaninterviewErnestLepore,DirectoroftheRutgersCenterforCognitiveScienceandafriendoftheDavidsonfamily,hasconductedwiththeauthorin1988.Inthisinterview,theauthorspeaksofhischildhood,hisstudentyearsatHarvard,andhisserviceinthenavyintheSecondWorldWar.Hedescribeshisacademiccareer,whichtookhimfromQueensCollegetoStanford,Princeton,andRockefellerUniversity,andilluminateshispersonalandphilosophicalrelationshipswithcontemporaryphilosophersandlogicianssuchasQuine,Dummett,Carnap,andTarski.HefinallyclarifiesLepore'squestionsregardingthedevelopmentofandrelationsbetweenhisphilosophicalprogrammesinthephilosophyofactionandthephilosophyoflanguage.

    Keywords:DonaldDavidson,HarvardUniversity,interview,MichaelDummett,ErnieLepore,philosophyofaction,philosophyoflanguage,W.V.O.Quine,RudolphCarnap,SecondWorldWar,StanfordUniversity,AlfredTarsi

  • An Interview with Donald Davidson

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    Lepore:Tellmeabitabouttheearlydays.Davidson:IwasborninSpringfield,Massachusetts,on6March1917toClarence(Davie)HerbertDavidsonandGraceCordeliaAnthony.Mymother'sfather'snamewasAnthony,buthermotherhadmarriedtwiceandbycoincidencebothherhusbandswerenamedAnthony.Mymotherhadahalf-brotherwhowasdirectlydescendedfromSusanB.Anthony,butIamnotbecauseI'mfromtheotherAnthony.IusedtothinkIwasrelated,becauseIknewmymotherwasnamedAnthonyandIknewSusanB.Anthonywasinthepicture,butit'sfalse.Mymother'sfamilylivedinGloversville,NewYork,andatthattimeitwasagreatplaceformanufacturinggloves.Mymother'sfatherhadafoundryinwhichhemanufacturedthestampswithwhichtheystampedoutthepartsofgloves.Theyweremoderatelyprosperous.Theyhadfiveorsixchildren,andtheyhadagreatbigsummerplaceonalake.MyfatherwasbornandgrewupinJerseyCity,NewJersey.Hecamefrompoorparents.HisfatherwasAmerican-born,buthisfather,mygreatgrandfather,camefromScotlandwithhisfamily;andveryshortlyafterhegottothiscountry,heabandonedhisfamilyanddisappearedintotheWestandwasneverheardfromagain.MygrandfatherworkedmuchofhislifeasaPullmancarconductor.ThePullmancaryardswerethenintheBronx.Sohelivedquiteneartheyards.He'dbegonealotofthetime,becausePullmancarsdidn't(p.232) belongtoanyrailroad;they'dbeleased,andtheycouldbeattachedtoanyoldtrain.Ithinkheratherenjoyedthatwork.Hewasaveryimpressive-lookingman,agreatbigmanwithahandlebarmustache.MyfatherwenttoCornellUniversityandheworkedhiswaythroughcollege.WelivedinthePhilippinesfromshortlyafterIwasbornuntilIwasaboutfouryearsold.WelivedaboutoneyearinAmherst(wheremyfathertaughtelementarymathematicsatthecollege),andthenSwarthmore,andinCollingswood,whichlikeSwarthmorewasanothersuburbofPhiladelphia.Itwasn'tuntilIwasnineortenthatwemovedtoStatenIslandandstayedput.Ihadn'thadanyformalschooltraininguntilthenbecausemyfamilymovedallthetime.Myparentssentmetoapublicschool,whichIwalkedtoforaboutthreemiles.Butbeingapublicschool,theyinsistedthatIstartinthefirstgrade.So,IwasamongkidsthatwerethreeorfouryearsyoungerthanIwas.Iwasmucholderthananyoneelseintheclass.Itwasridiculous.Andfurthermore,thoughIhadnoformalschooling,Iwasstillwayaheadofevenmyownagegroup.Theyhadmedoingpenmanship.ButIwasatthatschoolforonlypartoftheyear,andthenawomanwealwayscalledOldMrsWilcoxwhommyfamilyknewandwhohadhelpedfoundthefirstandonlyprogressiveeducationschoolinStatenIsland,theStatenIslandAcademy,justgavemeascholarshipandsupportedmethroughthewholetimeIwasthere.ThereIstartedinthefourthgrade,whichwasmoreorlessmyagegroup.Lepore:Whendidyoubegintothinkaboutphilosophy?Davidson:IwasinterestedinphilosophyfromveryyoungandthoughtaboutitwhenIwasinhighschool.Iwasreadingstuffofalldifferentqualities.IreadalotofNietzsche.IreadPlato'sParmenides.ItriedtoreadKant'sCritiqueofPureReason.AllthiswaswhileIwasinhighschool.LetmetellyouwhyItriedtoreadtheParmenides.Myhighschool[inStatenIsland]hadthissetoftheJowetttranslationsofPlato.IglancedatthemandtheParmenideshadalltheseone-lineremarks;oneguywould

  • An Interview with Donald Davidson

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    speakonelineandanotherguywouldspeakanotherline,andIthoughtthiswouldreadlikeaplaythatitwouldbeveryeasy.Infact,it'sallthismishmashabouttheoneandthemany.It'sahardbook,whereasifsomeonehadcounseledmeIwouldhavestartedwithPlato'sApologyorsomethinglikethat.Ididn'tknowanything;insteadIthoughtI'lljustputmymindtothisandgetthroughit.(p.233) Lepore:AllyoureducationwasatHarvard?Howisitthatyouwentthere?Davidson:HumeDow,myoldestfriend,wasthesonoftheAustralianconsulinNewYorkCity.Weweregreatpalsthroughouthighschool.Heintroducedmetomanythings.HewasayearolderthanI,andwhenhegraduatedhewentofftoHarvardUniversity.ThatwaspartofthereasonIwenttoHarvard.Ihadappliedtocolleges:HarvardUniversity,YaleUniversity,DartmouthCollege,andSwarthmoreCollege.BeingthekindofpersonIwasatthatpoint,Itookaweekofffromhighschoolandwentandvisitedalltheseschools.IneachcaseIwrotetotheDeanofAdmissionsandIsaidI'mlookingyourschoolover.WouldyoumindarrangingformetogotosomeclassesandifpossibleI'dliketobeputupinadormitorytoseewhatlifeislikeoncampus.Noonehadeverdonethisbefore,andtheyallrespondedpositively.Itwasascream.Theydidn'tquiteknowhowtoreact.Theyallarrangedformetogotoclasses;intheend,alltheuniversitiesofferedmescholarships,butSwarthmoreofferedmethebestinthesensethatitwasafour-yearscholarship.Iwasverytempted.ButthentheHarvardClubofNewYorkCity,abunchofrichstockbrokers,interviewedmeforascholarshiptheyofferedeachyear.Theyinterviewedfiftystudents.Iwastheverylastpersontheyinterviewed.Theytalkedtome;andattheendoftheinterview,theysimplylookedateachother,nodded,andsaidtomeyougotit.Itwasthelargestfinancialfreshmanscholarshipavailable.Itpaidmuchmorethantuition;itactuallysupportedmewhileIwasastudent.Theirpartingwordswereyoubetterpassthecollegeboards.Inotherwords,Harvardhadn'tadmittedmeyet.Thisclubhadjustgoneaheadandgivenmethescholarship.Igotin.So,sinceIlikedHarvardthebest,andsincethisoldpalofminewasthere,IchoseHarvard.Lepore:YoustartedHarvardinfall,1935.TellmeaboutthoseearlydaysatHarvard.Davidson:Frommypointofview,Harvardwassimplymarvelous.WhenIwasanundergraduate,Igotreallyonveryfriendlytermswithalotoftop-notchprofessors;thephilosopherA.N.Whiteheadtookmeunderhiswing;hewouldinvitemetohisapartmentforafternoonteaallthetime.Iknewmostofthepeopleinthephilosophydepartment:C.I.Lewis,Whitehead,lateronQuine,Demos.Iknewallthepeopleintheclassicsdepartment;IknewthechairmanoftheEnglish(p.234) department.Idon't,forthemostpart,spendnearlyasmuchtimewithmystudentsasmyteachersspentwithme.It'sjustnotingeneraldonethesedays.Ithinkit'spartlybecausewealldosomuchtraveling;andalsosomuchtimeistakenupwithcorrespondence.Butbackthenthesepeopleactuallyinvitedmeintotheirhomes,regularly.Lepore:Butdidyoustartoffstraightawayinphilosophy?Davidson:Well,look,IwasinfactanEnglishmajortobeginwith.IstudiedShakespeare,seventeenth-andeighteenth-centurypoetry,theEnglishnovel.TheBibleandShakespearewasaveryimportantcourseforme.ItookcourseswithHarryLevin.That'showIgotstartedonJamesJoyce.LevinwrotethefirstcriticalbookonJoyce.Levinwasbeginningthe

  • An Interview with Donald Davidson

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    comparativeliteraturedepartmentatHarvardthefirstoneintheUnitedStates.HeandTheodoreSpencer,agreatShakespearescholar,wentintothehistoryofideas,tracinganideafromHomerthroughtheMiddleAgesandthenonintotheRenaissance.Thisprogramcombinedphilosophywithliteratureandclassics.Thesepeopleinthehistoryofideashadagreatinfluenceonme.SodidWhitehead,infact,anditallfittogether,becauseWhiteheadbythenwaswritingthingslikeAdventuresofIdeas.So,hetoowasverymuchintothehistoryofideas,whichofcoursefitinverywellwiththekindsofthingsthatSpencerwastellingmeaboutforexample,howtheHomericstories,especiallytheOdyssey,werebeingtreatedintheearlyMiddleAges,andlateronintheRenaissancehowtheybecamesymbolsforallsortsofthings.HeputmeontobookslikeArthurLovejoy'sTheGreatChainofBeing,whichIjustateup.Boy,itturnedmeon.Ihadaveryverystronghistoricalapproachtoideas.ThenwhenIreturnedaftermysecondyearincollegetobeginmythirdyear,thereweretheseverytoughexamsIhadtotakeandpassinordertoremainatHarvard.Theexaminerswouldgiveyouoneortwolines,forexample,fromShakespeareandquestionyouwheredidthislinecomefrom,whosaidit,whatitsroleisintheplay,etc.YouhadtoknowShakespearebyheart.ThesamewastruewiththeBible.EveryonemajoringinEnglishhadtodothis.Andthenyouhadtochooseanancientandmodernauthor.IchoseAeschylusandGoethe.AndthusIdideverythingrequiredtogetadegreeinEnglish.Lepore:Isthiswhenyoushiftedintoclassics?Davidson:Exactly.It'sacharacteristicofminethatanythingIworkonforverylongIgetinterestedin.It'saluckycharacteristictohave.(p.235) Igotintoclassicsjustbysheeraccident.WhenIwenttoHarvard,youhadtohaveLatinorGreekifyouweregoingtogetaB.A.(BachelorofArtsdegree);otherwise,youreceivedaB.S.(BachelorofSciencedegree).Thatwastheonlydifference;nodifferenceinthecoursesyoutookotherwise.IfHarvardhadofferedLatin,Iwouldhavetakenit.ButHarvardassumedthatyoualreadyknewLatin;Ididn't.ButtheydidofferbeginningGreek.NowfornoimportantreasonwhatsoeverIwantedaB.A.andnotaB.S.AndsoItookbasicGreek.Itwasverywelltaughtbyteacherswhowereexcellent,andsoIcontinuedwithit.AlreadyatHarvardinthefirstcourseyoureadXenophon'sAnabasis,whichisveryinteresting.ThesecondcourseyoubeginHomer.Ilovedit.YouwoulddotheIliadinthefirsthalfoftheyearandtheOdysseyinthesecondhalfoftheyear.ThenIwenton.Itookacourseonthedramatists.AndthenIdidawonderfulcourseinThucydidesthatwasgivenbyJohnFindlay.Hewasabrilliantteacher,absolutelymarvelous.Hejustproducedonebeautifulsentenceandparagraphaftertheother.Hehadarhetoricalflair.Thereweren'tverymanypeoplemajoringinclassics.Harvardhadthisterrificclassicsdepartmentwithoutanystudentstoteach.SoIgotalotofattention.AfterIshiftedintoclassicsandphilosophy,Ialsohadtotakeexamsinphilosophyandclassics.Again,myideawasthatifIhadtotakeanexamonsomething,Iwouldn'ttakethecourse.So,infact,inundergraduateschool,forexample,Inevertookacourseinlogic;Ijustworkedonitonmyown.Lepore:ItseemsyouhadaverybroadeducationatHarvard.Davidson:InfactIwasspreadingmyselfoutthroughallthisstuff.IalsoauditedallthecoursesthattherewereonGreekartandarchitecture;andalsoonRomanesquearchitecture,

  • An Interview with Donald Davidson

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    andsoinGreekIhadakindofadvantageoverotherswhowerejustclassicistsbecauseIknewGreekphilosophy,history,Greekart,andGreekarchitecture.IreadallofGreekdrama.IremembermysenioryearIpersuadedHarvardtoletmeputonAristophanes'TheBirdsinGreek.Iplayedthelead,Peisthetairos,whichmeantmemorizing700linesofGreek.LeonardBernstein,whowasalsoaseniorintheclassof193839andafriend(weusedtoplayfour-handpianotogether),wroteanoriginalscorefortheproductionandconductedit.Someofthemusichewroteforthatscore,resurfacedinhisballet,FancyFree.Ialsohadagreatinterestinmusic.IauditedadvancedseminarsonBeethoven.Yes,itwasawonderfuleducation,absolutelymarvelous.(p.236) Lepore:Sowereyouabrilliantstudent?Davidson:Notatall.IwasgoodenoughthatIalwayshadascholarship,andoneyearIhadthreeA'sandaB+.IfIhadthreeandone-halfA'sandaB+Iwouldhavebeenonaspeciallistandgottenafreebookorsomethinglikethat.Thatdidn'tbotherme,butIdidmissoutonseveralthings.Forexample,thephilosophydepartmenthadinmindtograduatemewithasummacumlaude.Andsotheyinterviewedme,butsomethingdidn'tgoquiterightandallIreceivedwasamagnacumlaude.ButmybiggestfailurecamewhenIwasagraduatestudentseveralyearslater.HarvardconsideredmeforaJuniorFellowship.IwaslivingwithtwoguyswhowereJuniorFellows;QuinewasalsooneoftheFellows.WhiteheadwasaSeniorFellow.Icameascloseasyoucancomewithoutgettingit.ThewayIknowthisisthattheseguys,whoweremyfriends,theywouldgotothemeetingsandthefoldersofthecandidateswerethere,andeachweekthispilewouldgetsmallerandsmallerandtheywouldtellmethatIwasstillinthepile.Infact,Iwasthelastonetobesubtracted.Lepore:ButI'mnotsureifIunderstandtheimportanceofthistoyou.Davidson:Well,youhavetounderstandthatpracticallyeverysuccessfulphilosopheryouhaveeverheardofwhowasatHarvardwasaJuniorFellow.Forexample,BertDrebenwasaFellow;SaulKripkewasaFellow;StanleyCavellwasaFellow.TheFellowswerearichlyendowedorganizationwithintheumbrellaofHarvard.TheyhadtheirownroomsinElliotHouse,withitsowndiningrooms.TobeaJuniorFellowmeanttobefullysupportedforthreeyears.Theideawasthatitwouldbegiventopeoplewhodidnotyethaveadegree,andoneoftheconditionswasthattheywouldnotstudyforadegree;itwassoprestigioustobeaJuniorFellowthatyoudidn'tneedadegree,andalotofthoseguysdon'thavedegrees.KripkeandDrebendon'thaveadvanceddegrees,andthat'swhy.Thisrulewasneverabsolutelyrigid.Forexample,QuinegothisdegreesofastthathehadhisdegreebeforehewasaJuniorFellow.Infact,hewasinthefirstbatchofJuniorFellowsalongwithB.F.Skinner.Tobefrank,Ithinkinretrospectthattheywererightnottoappointme;atthatpointIdidn'thavethedegreeofachievementinanyareathatmostofthoseguyshad.Theywerebrilliantpeople.Lepore:Whatdoyoumeanwhenyousaybrilliant?WasitobviousthatQuinewasbrilliantatthatearlyage?(p.237)Davidson:Youaren'tkidding!Look,hehadessentiallynotraininginphilosophywhenhearrivedatHarvardforgraduatestudiesfromOberlinCollege.HehadhisPh.D.withintwoyears.TherewasnobodyatHarvardwhoknewanyseriouslogic;hewenttherebecauseWhiteheadwasthere;allQuineknewwasPrincipia

  • An Interview with Donald Davidson

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    Mathematica.WhiteheadhadnointerestinthatsortofstuffbythetimeQuinearrived;nordidRussellbythattime,forthatmatter.Look,Quinewasobviouslybrilliant.InthethirdyearoftheJuniorFellowship,eachFellowwasencouragedtogotoEurope.Quinedid,andthat'swhenhemetCarnap,whichhesaysinhisautobiographyisthefirstphilosophertoreallyimpresshim.Lepore:SurelyC.I.LewismusthaveimpressedQuine?Davidson:IdothinkthatC.I.LewishadatremendousinfluenceonQuine,butQuinedoesn'trealizeit.TheexplanationforthatisthatQuinehadnotraininginphilosophyandsowhenhetookLewis'scourseinepistemology,hetookforgrantedthisiswhateverybodyknowsaboutepistemology.Quinedidn'trealizethatLewiswasanydifferentfromeveryoneelse;prettysoonheworkedoutthatthereweresomethingshedidn'tagreewithLewisabout,liketheanalyticsyntheticdistinction.Idon'tthinkQuinewouldputitthisway.AsIsaid,Idon'tthinkherealizedanyofthis,butyoucanfindmostofQuine'sepistemologyinC.I.Lewisminustheanalyticsyntheticdistinction.EpistemologynaturalizedisveryclosetotheheartofC.I.Lewis.Idon'tthinkthatQuineknowstheextenttowhichtherereallyisasequencethatstartswithKantandgoesthroughC.I.LewisandendswithQuine.Lepore:Let'sseewhathappenedafteryougraduatedfromHarvardinspring,1939?Atsomepointyoureturned.Howdidthathappen?Davidson:Aftergraduating,Ihadnoplansforthefuture.Ihadagirlfriendwithacar,sowesetoutforHollywoodwhereherfatherwastheagentofanumberofcelebrities.IwrotesomeradioscriptsforBigTown,aonce-a-weekprivateeyeprogramstarringEdwardG.Robinson.Wespentmostofthesummerof1939havingfun,swimming,andridinghorses.DuringthesummerIgotacallfromHarvardaskingmeifIwouldacceptascholarshipinphilosophywithanemphasisinclassics.AmannamedTeschemacherhadjustleftageneroussumtoestablishsuchafellowshipavailabletophilosophygraduatestudentsatHarvard.Nooneelsewasinterested(p.238) inclassicalphilosophy.Iaccepted.Idon'tknowwhatIwouldhavedoneotherwise.Lepore:SonowyouarebackatHarvard?Whathappensnext?Davidson:NowIhadtogetseriousaboutphilosophy.Ihadtotakepreliminaryexamsattheendofmysecondyear.ItookmyfirstcourseinlogicwithQuine[fall,1939],anadvancedcoursewhichcoveredwhatwastobecomehisMathematicalLogic.Idon'tthinkIwaseverreallyanygoodatlogic,atleastnotasgoodasmanyotherswere.Still,overtheyearsIwouldrediscoverhowmuchIenjoyedsolvingsimplemathematicalandlogicalproblems,thoughIalwaysknewmygiftsinthisdirectionwereslight.Lepore:WhowereyourpeersatHarvardwhileyouwereingraduateschool?Davidson:ThetwoRodericks,ChisholmandFirth,werethere,andtheywerealreadyasgraduatestudentsdeeplyintotheproblemsofepistemologyandcouldargueknowledgeablyaboutsense-data.HenryAikenwasclearlybeinggroomedtooccupyaseniorpositioninthefaculty,somethinghehadalreadydonebythetimeIreturnedtoHarvardafterthewarasacontinuinggraduatestudent.ArthurSmullyanwaschallengingQuineonquantifiedmodallogicandchatt-ingwithBertrandRussellaboutthenatureofpropositionswhenRussellvisitedHarvard.Therewasagreatyearintheearly1940swhenRussellcameandgaveaseminar,towhichQuine,Carnap,andTarskiallcame.Lepore:Inadditiontothecourseonmathematical

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    logic,didyoutakeanyothercourseswithQuineasayounggraduatestudent?Davidson:Yes,indeed,andthissecondonechangedmyattitudetophilosophy.UntilthenIhadthoughtofphilosophyasnotasseriousassciencebutmoreseriousthanartcriticism.Quine'sseminaronlogicalpositivism,whichItookasafirst-yeargraduatestudent,turnedmearound.Inlateryears,IoftenheardgraduatestudentsatHarvardcomplainaboutQuine'steaching;theyfounditclearandcarefullyworkedoutbutuninspired.Quinehimselfhaswrittenthathedidnotmuchenjoyteaching,especiallywhenitcametotopicsoutsideoflogic.Buthecertainlyturnedmeon,andintheprocessheturnedmearound.UnderQuine'stutelageIdiscoveredthemagicalsatisfactionsofcontrivingelementaryformalproofs.Moreimportanttomeinthe(p.239) longrunwasQuine'sscrupulousattentiontothedistinctionsbetweenuseandmention,theconditionalandentailment,substitutionalandonticquantification.TheseimpliedaseriousnessabouttherelationsbetweensemanticsandlogicwhichIabsorbedwithoutrealizingatthetimehowfewphilosopherssharedsuchconcerns.WhenQuinecamebackfromEuropein1933,hewasfiredupbyhisencounterswiththeViennaCircle,TarskiandespeciallyCarnap.OnhisreturntoHarvard,QuinegavethreelecturesonCarnapwhichseemedopenlytoespouseallofCarnap'scentraldoctrines;inanycasetherewasnocriticism.ButbythetimeIwastakingQuine'sseminaronlogicalpositivismyearslaterasagraduatestudent,hehadworkedouthisobjectionstotheanalyticsyntheticdistinction,andtothereductionofordinarystatementsaboutthephysicalworldtostatementsaboutsense-data.ThisledtotherejectionofCarnap'spolicyoftolerancewithrespecttogeneralontologicalissues.WhatmatteredtomewasnotsomuchQuine'sconclusionsIassumedhewasrightastherealizationthatitwaspossibletobeseriousaboutgettingthingsrightinphilosophyoratleastnotgettingthingswrong.BycomparisonwithmostoftheideasIhadstudiedaspartofthehistoryofideas,theissuesbeingdebatedbyQuineandhisopponentsseemedtomeclearenoughtowarrantinterestintheirtruthvalues.Thechangeinmyattitudeinphilosophybegantoseepintomythinkingaboutethicsandthehistoryofphilosophy;IfoundinC.D.Broad'sFiveTypesofEthicalTheoryandRussell'sbookonLeibnizconcernedwithclarityandtruthIwasbeginningtoprize.Ididn'tknowenoughtobebotheredbythehistoricalinaccuracies;whatIlikedwastheapplicationofcontemporaryanalyticmethodsandstandardstomaterialIhadpreviouslyviewedasbeyondorabovebeingjudgedastrueorfalse.C.I.Lewis'sfamouscourseonKanthadsomewhatthesameeffectonme.Lepore:YouleftHarvardatsomepointtogointothewar.Whenandhowdidthathappen?Davidson:Infallof1941,Iwasinmythirdyearofgraduateschool,anditseemedprettyclearthatweweregoingtogetintothewar.AtfirstIwasagainstthewar.IhadbeenbroughtupbelievingthattheFirstWorldWarwasacapitalistplottomakemoneyfrommunitionsmanufacturers,whichmaynotbetotallywrong.Lepore:Really!Wasyourfatheraverypoliticalman?(p.240)Davidson:Yes,myfatherwaspolitical;infact,bothmyparentswereleftwing,butnotasleftwingasIbecame.Hethought,asmanyliberalsdid,thattheFirstWorldWarhadbeenaveryquestionableenterpriseallaround.Maybeitdoesn'tlookthatwaynow,butitdidtothem.Hewasforastronggraduatedincometax.Hedidn't

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    thinkpeopleoughttoinheritmoney.Lepore:Yourpoliticsdoesn'tcomeacrossinyourwritings.Whatsortofpoliticalleaningsdidyouhaveintheseearlydays?Davidson:Iwasquiteclearlywhatwascalledafellowtraveler.Mypoliticswerelikeallmyleft-wingfriends'.IneverjoinedtheCommunistParty,butIfollowedthepartyline.Still,givenachoicebetweenbecomingcannonfodderormakingapileofmoney,Ichosethelatter.AndsoIappliedforadmissiontotheHarvardBusinessSchool.Theyhadanacceleratedcourseforpeopletobecomejuniorexecutiveswhowouldrunthefactories.Ithoughtthat'sforme.Itwasveryhard,thenasnow,togetintoHarvardBusinessSchool.IwasbothsimultaneouslybeingagraduatestudentinphilosophyandattendingtheHarvardBusinessSchool.Infact,Iwasteachingsectionsinphilosophy.IboughtabicyclesothatIcouldgetbackbetweentwosidesoftheriver.Idon'tknowifyouknowanythingaboutwhatHarvardBusinessSchoolwaslike?It'slikegoingtolawschool.It'sextremelyintensiveandverycompetitive.It'sallbasedonthecasesystem.Atnightyoureadacase,andyoucomeinthenextdayandtheycallonpeople.Youhavetositinacertainseat.Theprofessorhadapictureofyouandhejustlookeddownathischartandpickedyouout.HewouldsayOkay,youreadthecase.Whatwasthedecisionandwhatwouldyoudo?Whywouldyoudoit?Itwasaneducationalprocess.Andtheseprofessorswereveryveryskillful.Itwasterrificteaching.SoI'mworkingmyheadoff.Ihadalotofenergy.Thiswasanacceleratedprogramintwoways.Itwentstraightthroughthesummer,andtheyleftoutthecourseinadvertising.Theideawasthatonceyoucompletedthisprogramyouwouldknowhowtosetupafactory.Theywouldgiveyoutheblueprintsforapieceofmachineryandsay,okay,showushowyouwouldsetupaproductionlinetomanufacturethis.Weweresupposedtolearnhowtodothis.Weweregoingtobethebosses.Lepore:I'msuremostphilosophersdon'tknowthisaboutyou.Howdidyoulikebusinessschool?(p.241) Davidson:Iwasastraightgraduatestudentinphilosophyfortwoyears.ThethirdyearIwasagraduatestudentinphilosophyandatthesametimewasatthebusinessschool.IwasactuallythirdinmyclassatHarvardBusinessSchool;butinfactIneverfinished.IwasafullyearattheBusinessSchoolandinmysecondyear,somethinglikeforty-fivedaysfromwhenIwouldhavegraduated,IwascalledupbytheNavy;IcouldhavejustsaidIdidn'twanttogo,butIhadvolunteered.WhenGermanyinvadedRussia,wefellowtravelerschangedourmindsaboutthenatureofthewar.Nowtherewasagoodandabadside.ThisisbeforeDecember1942.Iwasn'tdrafted;mylotterynumberwassolowIwouldneverhavebeendrafted;indeed,noonewhogotintotheBusinessSchoolcouldbedrafted.Iactuallyvolunteered.IcouldhavesaidthatIwanttofinishbusinessschoolfirstandtheywouldhaveletme.ButIsaid,look,ifI'mgoingtogotothewar,Idon'tgiveadamnaboutthisbusinessstuff.I'vealwaysbeengladIwenttobusinessschoolbecauseitgavemeaninsightintohowalotofpeoplethinkthatIwouldhaveneverknownotherwise.AndIlikedthefeelingthatIcouldhavedoneit.ButIwouldn'thavelikedthepeople.Afterthewartheysaidcomebackforamonthandyoucouldgetyourdegree.Ididn'tgoback.Lepore:Soyouwereinthewaralongtime?Davidson:Absolutely.Iwasinthreeandahalfyears.IwentinNovemberof1942andgotoutaboutthesummerof

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    1945.Lepore:WhatrankdidyouentertheNavyas?Davidson:Iwentinasanensign.That'slikeasecondlieutenant.Lepore:That'sbecauseyouwereacollegegraduate?Davidson:That'sright.ButIdidn'thavetogotobootcampbecauseIwasputintothisacceleratedprogramtobecomeateacherofrecognition.Inthesummerof1942,wehadjustinvadedNorthAfrica,andourshipshadshotdownfortyplanesorso,allofthemourown.Therewerenoenemyplanes.Sotheyneededpeoplewhocouldtellthedifference.Sotheythoughtthey'dbettertrainpeoplewhocouldteachgunnershowtorecognizeenemyplans.Theyveryquicklypickedagroupofmaybethirty-fivepeople.Andnothavinganyotherideaofknowinghowtodoit,theypickedpeoplewholookedasiftheyweregoingtobeteachersthatincludedme.TheysentusalltoOhioState,wheretherewasapsychologistwhothoughtheknewhowtoteach(p.242) peoplewell,ifthat'stherightword,sothattheycanseeanumberonascreenthat'sexposedforonlyahundredthofasecond.Andatfirstyoudon'tseeanythingpractically,andthenafterawhileyoucanseesomethingandyoucanwritedownsomenumbers.Nowwhatyoucanteachpeopleisthatifyoucanseethethingforahundredthofasecond,youcanwritedownthirteennumbers.Hethought,well,inmodernwarfare,planesarecomingateachotheratabout1,000milesanhour,yougottopickituplikethat.So,thetrainingconsistedofshowingustheseblackandwhitesilhouettesforahundredthofasecond.Iwasthebestpersontheyeverhad.Ilovedairplanesandships,andIwasextremelygoodatit.Ithadnothingtodowiththehundredthofasecondthing.WhenIcametotrainpeople,Idiscoveredthatwasn'tthewaytodoitatall;Imeanwithsilhouettes.Youneverseeplanesinperfectsilhouettes.Theycomeatfunnyangles.What'samuchbetterwayofidentifyingthemisbyhowtheymove.SoIgotalltheseshotsthattheytookfromplaneswhentheywereshootingdownotherplanesbecause,duringthewar,therewasalwaysacameraaimedinthesamedirectionasthegunsofthefighterthatis,straightahead.Iwasgoingtoteachgunnershowtodistinguishalliedplanesfromenemyplanes.Theygaveusalittleofthestandardbootcampstuffontheside.Lepore:Thoughitwasagoodcause,wasn'titawasteoftime?Davidson:Yeah.Itwasaterriblewasteoftime.ButIdidparticipateintheinvasionsofSicily,Salerno,andEnzio.AfterwehaddriventheGermansoutofNorthAfrica,wehadMalta,whichwaslikeanaircraftcarrierforus.SoIwasinonthethreebigamphibiousinvasionsbeforethebigoneinthenorth.Salernowas6September1943;andAnziowas22January1944.Still,itwasaterriblewasteoftime.Mostofitwasincrediblyboring.Lepore:DidyoustayintheMediterraneanthewholetime?Davidson:AfteroneyearintheMediterranean,Iknewmoreaboutplanerecognitionthananyoneelse.Sotheysaidyoucangowhereyoulike,andIsaid,howaboutFlorida?SoIwassenttothenavalairstationinJacksonville,Florida,aroundtheendof1943.Iwasthereforalmostayear.ThenIwassenttoMiamiforayear,andthatwaspleasant.ThiswasmythirdyearintheNavy.Iwasnowteachingpilotshowtorecognizeenemyplanes.IwasabletorentahugewonderfulhouseonthebeachjustnorthofMiami.Icommutedfromtheretothe(p.243)navalstation.WhenIgotbackfromtheMediterranean,Ihadquiteabitofmoneysaved.Anycarthatwasgoodatthistimecostafortune.SowhenIgotbacktothe

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    States,IboughtthisPlymouthconvertibleonFifthAvenueinNewYorkCityrightoffthefloor.ThiswasthefirstextravagantthingofthatkindIeverdoneinmylife.IdroveittoFlorida.Lepore:I'dliketoknowyourimpressionsofthewar.Davidson:Ididn'tlikeriskingmylife,andwhatIwasdoingwasverydangerous.Morethanhalftheshipsintheflotillaweresunkwitheveryoneaboard.Destroyersareveryveryvulnerable.Theirskinsaresothinthatamachinegunbulletwillgothroughit.Insidetheyarefullofminesandothersortsofexplosivematerials.Practicallyanythinginthemwillblowup.Allyouhadtodoistapthemandthat'stheendofit.Ikeptchangingfromoneshiptoanother.Theywerealwaysputtingmeontheleadship.Iwaslucky.Ihatedtheideaofbeingkilled.Iwasn'tfightingsomuch;Isomuchdislikedtheconcept.Ontheseships,almosteveryonewasconfused,andeverythingconfusing.OnethingthatstandsoutinmymindveryclearlyIthinkthefirsttimeiteverhappenedweweresittinginthisharborinNorthAfricagettingorganizedtoinvadenorthernSicily.TherewerehundredsofshipsinthisharborandtheGermanscameoveratnighttobombusallthesesearchlinesbutthemainthingyouwouldseeisallthisincredibleanti-aircraftstuffgoingonofallsizes:20mm,40mm,five-inchguns.Theskywasfulloftremendousfireworks.Ilovefireworks.Lepore:Butit'sdifficultforme,givenwhatIknowaboutyourpersonality,toimagineyoubeingbossedaround,butbeinginthemilitarymeansbeingbossedaround.Davidson:Thereisn'tallthatmuchbossing.Thereisplentythatyouhavetodo.FortunatelyIwassparedalotofthatbymypeculiarsituation.Ashiphadsomanyofficerswhoweretodoonething.ButIdidn'toccupyanyknownrole,sotospeak.Iwasjustanattachedofficerwhotheoreticallycouldtellthedifferencebetweenafriendlyplaneandanenemyplane.Thecaptainsdidn'tknowwhattodowithme.SincetheyhadnotheoryaboutwhatIshoulddo,Ispentsomeofthetimeinthemessroom,tryingtoteachpilotstodistinguishfriendlyfromenemyplanes.SoIdidn'tsufferinthesamewaythatothersmighthave.ItriedtoexplaintothecaptainsoftheshipsIwason(p.244) whatIthoughtIcoulddo.Aftertheytriedmeout,theywereprettyimpressedthatIcoulddothis.Lepore:Okay,sothewarisover.YouareoutoftheNavy.It's1946.Whatdoyoudonow?Davidson:BythenIwasmarried.Ihadmetmywife,VirginiaBolton,atmysister'sweddingin1941.Shewasthesisterofthemanmysistermarried.Atthattime,Virginiawasmarriedtosomeoneelse,toaGerman,whohadcometothiscountrytoescapethewar.IgotmarriedjustasIgraduatedfromthetrainingschoolatOhioState,atthebeginningofmyNavycareer,onNewYear'sEve,1942.MywifeVirginiamovedbacktoNewYorkCitywhileIwasatsea.ShewaswithmeinJacksonvilleandMiami.AfterIleftthemilitary,inDecember1945,IwasreleasedfromtheNavy,thoughtheoreticallystillintheNavy,VirginiaandIjustfooledaroundinMexicoformonthswhileIjustthoughtaboutwhatIwantedtodo.Ididalotofdrawingandpainting,andalotofwriting.OneofthefewdreamsIneverhadwasthatIcouldbecomeapainter,butIhadcertainlythoughtthatImightbeawriter.IhadthisexperiencewritingradioscriptsrightafterundergraduateschoolatHarvardandIknewalotaboutliterature.Butafterwritingafewchaptersofaprospectivenovel,IconcludedthatIwasnevergoingtobeagreatwriter.InowthinkinawayIwasverynaive.IthinkIthoughtyoutryashardasyoucan,and

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    eitherit'sokayorit'snot.Ididn'tappreciatethentheimportanceofpersistence,somethingIhavecometoappreciateinphilosophy.Lepore:Wasitatthispointthatyoudecidedtogobacktophilosophy?Davidson:Yes.Ihadn'tdoneanythingforthreeandahalfyearswithphilosophy.Beingintheservicewasjustlikebeingmarooned.WhenIwentbacktoHarvardafterthewar,inMarch1946,allIhadtodowaswritemydissertation;IfinishedallthecourseworkandprelimsbeforeIwentintotheservice.ButIwonderedwhatisitthatIcouldpossiblywriteon.C.I.Lewissaidtome,Look,youlostthreeyears.Yougottogetgoing.HewasmoreworriedaboutitthanIwas.So,Ithought,OK,Idon'tseehowI'mgoingtodoit.So,Ijustrushedthrough.IwroteonPlato'sPhilebus.It'saninterestingdialogue.I'vewrittenaboutitrecentlyinmypaperPlato'sPhilosopher.Lepore:What'sspecialaboutthisdialogue?(p.245) Davidson:SocratesdropsoutofthePlatonicdialoguesprettyearly.ThePhilebusistheonlyoneinwhichhebecomesthemajorfigureagain.Thisistwentyyearsafterhavingdroppedout.Secondly,it'stheonlylatedialogueinwhichPlatousestheelencticmethodofquestion/teachingthatheusesintheearlydialogues,andit'saboutethics,whichisthesubjectofalltheearlydialogues.Lepore:Yourecentlypublishedyourdissertation,didn'tyou?Davidson:Yes,GarlandPresshasrecentlypublishedmanyHarvarddissertationsinphilosophy.However,theychargeoutrageouspricesforit.PluswhatIwroteinmydissertationisquitedull.Irushedit.However,Imade$600onroyaltiesfromitafterthefirstyear.So,someoneisbuyingit.Lepore:BacktoHarvard.Davidson:Thefirstdraftofmydissertationwasn'taccepted.Atthatpoint,summer,1946,IwasassistingQuineinhislogiccourse.IhadfirstmetandstartedstudyingwithQuinebeforethewarduringmyfirstyearofgraduateschool.Itookhismathlogiccourse.Thatwasmyfirstlogiccourse.AssoonasIstartedstudyingwithhim,webecamefriends.Infact,attheendofmyfirstyearasagraduatestudent,summerof1940,QuineandIspentthesummerinMexico.Lepore:Ican'timagineQuinebeingenthusiasticaboutyourwritingadissertationonthePhilebus?Davidson:Well,thewaytoputitisthatweremainedfriendsthroughallofit.Hewasalittlemystifiedbymywritingonthis.Henevertalkedtomeaboutit.Lepore:SothereyouarebackatHarvard.Davidson:MysecondtimearoundasagraduatestudentIsimplywasn'tearninganymoney.MywifeVirginiawassupportingus.ShewasmakingmagazinelayoutsforsomemagazineinBoston.SheworkedthewholetimeIwasintheNavy.Anyway,IthoughtIhadtostartearningsomemoneyandgetajob.WhenIwasanundergraduate,IstudiedwithRaffaelloDemosthepersonwhotaughtGreekphilosophyatHarvard.TheteachingassistantformysectionwasJohnGoheen.Thiswasmyfreshmanyear.Goheenismyoldestfriendinphilosophy.BythetimeIcompletedbyfirstdraftofmydissertation,GoheenwasteachingatQueensCollegeinNewYorkCity.Goheen(p.246) offeredmeajobatQueen'sCollege.Althoughmydissertationhadnotbeenacceptedyet,Iwasofferedseveraljobs.ButIlikedGoheenandIlikedtheideaofbeinginNewYorkCity.So,ItookthejobatQueensinSeptember1946.Iwasonlyaninstructor,notevenanassistantprofessor.Lepore:WhatwasitliketeachingatQueens?Davidson:Queenswasasuperiorcampus.ItwasinwhatwasthentheCatholicareaofQueens.AtthetimeGoheencametherefromHarvard,hisfirstjobtoo,hewasaskedtoformthe

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    philosophydepartment.SothereIwasteachingatQueensfifteenhoursaweek,plusextratimewithstudentswhowantedtobetutored.ThefirstyearIwaslivinginFlushing(Queens).ButwewantedtobeinManhattan.SinceIwasaveteran,IwasatthetopofthelisttogetintoPeterStuyvesantTown,justnorthofGreenwichVillage,astheywerebuildingit.TheywereFederalapartments,andwewereabletopickouttheapartmentwewanted.Wechosethetopfloor,andwestayedthereacoupleofyears.ThenIhadayearoff194849becausetheFordFoundationusedtogiveaboosttopeopleintheservicesthattheythoughtwereworthyinonewayoranother.Quinegotoneofthesespecialyear-offfellowshipsaswell.IspentthatyearinCalifornia,partlybecauseGoheenwasalreadyouttherestayingwithrelativesinsouthernCaliforniainRiverside,andwehadthisgreatplanofwritingahistoryofphilosophy.Itnevergotanywhere.ActuallywhatIdidwiththatyearwaswritemydissertation.Iwasjustoverthirty.Thatwasaniceyear.That'stheyearIlearnedhowtofly.TherewasanairportnearwherewewerelivinginPomona.IfirsttaughtmyselfhowtoflywhenIwasquiteyoung,inmycellar.Ibuiltalittlemachine.Itwasaboxthatyouputyourkneesinwithfootpeddlesandathrottle.Thethrottlecontrolledthespeedofafanwhichwassittinginfrontofmeflowinginmyface.Therewasalsoajoystickwhichcontrolledthepositionofamodelairplanefacingawayfromme.Thewindisgoingbyit,andithadthesecontrolsurfacesthatIcouldworkwiththethrottle.Lepore:Howdidyouknowaboutflying?Davidson:IhadbeenfascinatedbythissinceIwasalittlekid.Iwouldputmyselftosleepatnightbyputtingmyselfthroughmaneuvers.ThefirsttimeIgotinaplaneIcouldfly.WhileIwasintheNavyteachingalltheseguysatJacksonvilleandMiami,Iwouldtalktheseguysintotakingmeup.Sowegotintheselittleplanes,andtheywouldleave(p.247) meupinthecockpitflying.InJacksonvilleIwasflyingthesePBY2s,whichiscalledtheCatalina,atwo-engineplane.ButearlierthanthatIflewaPBY4,whichistheMariner,whichisamuchbiggerplane.ButwhenIgottoMiami,theywereflyingfightersmuchmorehigh-poweredplanes.Iusedtogetthemtotakemeupinthese,andIwouldtryallthesevariousmaneuvers.SothereIwasinCalifornia.IwasbeingpaidbytheGIBilltoattendgraduateschool,andIhadonlyusedupalittleofitduringthethreemonthsIwasatHarvard.SoIhadmoneyleftandIusedittotraintofly.Iwasn'tteachinginCalifornia.AfterIgotmysololicense,IcouldgoanywhereIwanted,andIflewalloverthesouth-west.IflewtoSanFrancisco;IflewtoDeathValley;Ihadsomewonderfuladventures.Ilovedit.Flyingthenwasmuchmorefunthanitisnow.Lepore:DidyoureturntoQueensattheendofthatyear?Davidson:Ifinishedmydissertationfairlyearlyin1949.IwentbacktoQueensinfall,1949,andeverythinghadchanged.TheoldpresidenthadretiredandbeenreplacedbythisawfulmanTheobald,whowastheirin-houseCatholicandhewantedtogetridofthewholephilosophydepartmentandhireabunchofCatholics,whichheeventuallydid.So,IhadsomeinterestingscrapswherethepresidentcalledmeonthecarpetandIfoughtwithhimandtoldhimoff.Inthesummerof1950,VirginiaandIwenttoEurope.WerentedahouseinthesouthofFrance.AndtheQuinesvisitedusthere.AndhehadthemanuscriptofTwoDogmasofEmpiricismwithhim,whichIreadandcommentedon.IreturnedtoQueensthatfall,andtheninthemiddleoftheyear,January1951,Goheen,who

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    hadleftQueenstogotoStanfordtobecomechairman,offeredmeajobatStanford.Lepore:WhowasatStanfordatthattime?Davidson:PatSuppeshadarrivedatStanfordinSeptember1950.IwentinJanuary1951.ThephilosophydepartmentconsistedofGoheen,Suppes,myself,andseveralotherpeople.TherewasamannamedMothershed,whowasmarriedtoaverywealthywoman.TherewasaquiteinterestingmannamedJohnReed.Reedtaughtethics.HewasmarriedtoawomanwhowasapsychologistandranaclinicatBerkeley.AfterthefirstyearIwasthere,hedecided,whilehewasteachingfull-time,hewouldgotomedicalschool;hecompletedthefirstyearofmedicalschoolandthenwashiredbyJohnsHopkinsUniversitytoteachintheirpsychiatrydepartment.Hewasaveryvery(p.248) smartguy.ItwasnotanabsurdthingforHopkinstodo.Soheleft.Reedwasinhisfiftieswhenheleft.Lepore:YourmovetoStanford,career-wise,wasalateralmove.Stanforddidnothaveanyphilosophicalreputationatthispoint?Davidson:ItwascomingupveryfastbutIdidn'tthinkaboutthingsthatway.Ididn'tworryabouttenure;Ididn'tworryaboutupanddown,butIdidthinkverymuchofgeography.Ilovedmovingoutthere.Lepore:Didyouhaveaniceplacetolivein?Davidson:Ohboy.Wefeltasifwewererich.Virginiawasbythenaprofessionalpotter,andshemadesomemoney,notmuch.Sheneverinfactmadealotofmoney.However,werentedahugehouseinMountainView.Itwasenormous,andwehadtheideathatweweregoingtobuysomepropertyandbuildahouse.So,welivedintherentedhouseforayear.Iwasanassistantprofessor,andIdidn'thavetenureoranythingelse.Weboughtsevenacresoflandfor$7,000inthehills,inwhatbecamepartofWoodside.DuringChristmasvacationIdesignedahouse.Virginiawasadraughtsman;shemadetheblueprints,andwehiredguystopourtheconcrete.Wewereabletomoveintothehouse.Wecompletedthegaragefirst.Ithadalotofwindowsinitandwelivedinthatwhilewecompletedtherestofthehouse.Butitdidn'ttakeuslong.Thelandandthehousecostussomethinglike$18,000.Iwasmakingverylittlemoney,lessthan$6,000ayear.Butthemoneywentalongway.Wewereveryluckytofallintothatpieceofland.Asuperbpieceoflandwayoutinthemiddleofnowherebutveryclosetoacountryroadwhichwaskeptup,andtherewerepowerlinesofftooneside.Sonoproblemaboutgettingelectricity;thepeoplethatsoldusthelandinstalledawatersystem.Wehadalittlewatercompanyamongsevenofus.WeboughtourwaterwholesalefromtheCaliforniaWaterCompanyandpumpeditupthehillinapipewehadinstalled.Itwascheaperthanbeinginthecity.Soitwasaverygooddeal.Thathouseisnow[1988]worthmorethan$2,000,000.Lepore:OK.It's1952.Youareinyourmid-thirties,andyoustilldon'thaveaphilosophicalproject.IrecallfromearlierconversationsthatSuppesandMcKinseyhadyoudoingvariousdecisiontheoryproblems.Butthat'shardlyaproject.(p.249) Davidson:That'sright.Itwasverysweetofthemtoteachmedecisiontheoryandmeasurementtheory.AfterIlearnedabit,theysaid,let'swritethisarticletogether,FormalTheoryofValue,whichappearedinPhilosophyofScience.ThenImadethislittlediscoverytheRamseyresultIdescribeinBeliefandtheBasisofMeaningandelsewhere.IshouldsayIrediscoveredthisresultofRamsey's.SuppesrealizedimmediatelybetterthanIdidwhatitspotentialwas.Sowepublishedthat,andthenwedidthis

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    experimentalworktogether.Thatalltoldtookacoupleofyears.Lepore:Suppesisaboutthesameageasyou?Davidson:He'sactuallyyounger.Buthethoughtofmeassomeonehewasteaching.ButinfactMcKinseywastheguywhowasteachingbothofus.Hewasoneoftheinventorsofquantifiedmodallogic,thoughhedidn'tpublishmuchofhisstuff.WehiredhimbecausehewaswiththeRANDcorporationinSantaMonica,andtherewasallthisstuffabouthisbeingabadsecurityriskbecausehewasahomosexual.Sotheytookawayhissecurityclearance,andStanfordhiredhim.ThenMcKinseycommittedsuicide.BythenhehadalreadybeeninvitedtowritethisarticlefortheSchilppLibraryofLivingPhilosophersvolumeonCarnap.HewasanaturaltochoosetowritesomethingonMeaningandNecessity,sinceheknewallaboutquantifiedmodallogic,andhewastowriteaboutthemethodofintensionandextension.Hesaidtome,Look,Iknowthelogic,butyouknowthephilosophy.Whydon'twewriteittogether?IsaidOK,andthenhedied.Lepore:CarnaponExtensionandIntensionwasyourfirstseriousphilosophicalpublication.IalwaysassumedthatQuinearrangedthat?Davidson:No,hehadnothingtodowiththat.Atthatpointinmycareer,QuineknewwhoIwas,butwewerenotseeinganythingofeachother,orcorrespondingoranythinglikethat.Lepore:I'vebothtaughtthatarticleandwrittenonit.It'snotdull,butit'slongandplodding.Still,onecanseesomeofyourlifelonginterestsbeginningtoappearinit,eventhoughthatarticlewaswrittensomethirteenyearsbeforeTruthandMeaning.Davidson:Well,IwassimplyteachingmyselfthatsubjectwhenIwrotethatpiece.ItwasmanyyearsfromwhenIfinishedwritingthatessayanditwaspublished.Ididn'tknowanythingaboutCarnapwhen(p.250) Istartedwritingit.IwasspendingallmytimeatStanfordteachingallthesebasiccourses.ItaughteverythingatStanford.InthatsenseitwaslikeQueens.Itaughtancientphilosophy,thelaterdialoguesofPlato;Itaughtmodernphilosophy,Descartes,Hume,andsoforth;Itaughtepistemology;Itaughtphilosophyoflanguage.AtthesametimeIwasinchargeofthegraduateprogram.WhenIshowedupatStanford,theywerejustgivingMAs.AfterIarrived,eachyearIwouldtravelaroundthecountrypickingupstudents.Veryquickly,bythemid-1950s,wepickedupalotofverygoodstudents.Itdidn'ttakelong.Lepore:Butstillyouhadnoseriousphilosophicalproject.Isupposeyouhadthedecisiontheory.Davidson:Yes,butIneverthoughtofitasmylifework.Itengagedme.Youdon'tunderstandme.Igetinterestedinthings.Ifoundtheworkindecisiontheorypleasant.Also,Iwasworkingupalotofstuff.Forexample,on11November1954IgaveatalkonCarnap'smethodofintensionandextensiontowhichTarskicame.ThoseearlyyearsatStanford,Iwasdoingalsoallthatpsychologicalstuff.Iwasgivingtalkstopsychologistsandeconomists,andalotofothersortsoftalksaswell.IgaveatalkonuseandmeaningatanAPA[AmericanPhilosophicalAssociation]meetingin1953,atalkonmetaphorin1954,atalkonmeaningandmusicin1954.AtaWesternPsychologicalAssociationmeetingin1954Igaveatalkontheexperimentalstudyofsomefactorsinfluencingdecisionmakinginconflictsituations.TheAmericanMathematicalSociety,thatyear,Igaveatalkonquantitisticaxiomatizationofsubjectiveprobability.IgaveatalkinDecember1954onmeaningandmusictoanaestheticsgroup.ButgettingbacktothepiecefortheCarnapvolume.Ittookmea

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    lotoftime;youhavetorealizeIdidn'treallyunderstanditverywell,andIjusthadtothinkandthinkaboutthatstuff.Eventogetthemostbasicstuffstraightinmyhead.AfterIsentthearticlein,butbeforetheSchilppvolumecameout,CarnapinvitedmedowntoLosAngelestotalkaboutit.Hewasextremelysweet.Hewasalovelymanandveryimpressive.Itwaswonderfultrainingwritingthatarticle,andatthesametimeeachyearIwasteachingthephilosophyoflanguagecourse,andthatwasabighelptoo.Also,Iwasteachingtheintroductoryethicscourse.IdidthatforseventeenyearsatStanford.Lepore:Thereweremanyinteresting,stimulatingpeopleatStanford,atleastvisitingatthistime:forexample,DavidWiggins,Dagfinn(p.251) Fllesdal,MichaelDummett,DavidPears.WhobroughtalltheseforeignphilosopherstoStanford?Davidson:Ididthat.Itwasallmydoing.Therewasnooneelsetodothesethings.Therewasnooneelsetoteachthebasiccourses,andtherewasnooneelsewhoevenknewwhomtoinvite.Intheearlydays,Iwasinchargeofspeakers.IinvitedRyle,withwhomIgottobefriends,Austin,Strawson,Anscombe,Dummett,Pears,Wiggins,Hampshire,Grice.Dummettcameanumberoftimes,atleasttwotimes,maybethree.Lepore:Howdidyouknowwhomtoinvite?Davidson:BecauseIread.IreadthetruthpaperbyDummett.Ireadeverything.IwasteachingphilosophyoflanguageeveryyearandIreadalotofit;Iwasconsumingahugeamountofstuff.HowIhadtheenergyandtimetodoallthat,Ihavenoidea.Lepore:I'msorrytokeepreturningtothissametheme,butI,andI'msuremostotherphilosophers,thinkofyouasaprogrammaticphilosopher.Nooneelsecomestomindrightawaywhoisasdeeplyentrenchedinaphilosophicalprogramasyouare.Nowsuchprogramsdon'tspringexnihilo,andherewearealreadyupto1955andIstilldon'tseeaprogramforming.Icanseetracesofyourphilosophicalworkinthedecision-theoreticprojectsthatyoucontributedtowithSuppesandMcKinsey,butit'smerelytraces.Also,Quinehasn'tshownupatStanfordyet.So,youdidn'tevenknowaboutWordandObject.Ijustdon'thaveanyhistoricalsensefromwhereyourphilosophicalideassprang.Davidson:Icaneasilyhelpwiththis.Iwasbuildingupmoreandmoreapictureintwoareas.Onewasphilosophyofaction,andtheotherwasphilosophyoflanguage.Iwasveryinhibitedsofaraspublicationwasconcerned.Lepore:Onethingthatmuststrikeallstudentsofyourworkishowrelativelylateinyourcareeryoubegantopublishonthetopicsforwhichyouaresowellknown.Thisisespeciallyinterestingwhenoneknows,asIdonow,howmanypublicpresentationsyouweregivingbeforeyoubegantopublishforexample,atAPA's,verypublicevents.So,I'mwonderingwhatyoumeanbysayingyouwereveryinhibitedsofaraspublicationwasconcerned?Whatwasthatallabout?(p.252) Davidson:What'stheretosay?Lotsofpeoplehavethat.ThereisasenseinwhichIretainedsomeoftheattitudewhichIhadasanundergraduate,whichisthatphilosophyissomethingtoviewfromafar.AlthoughIwasteachingphilosophyandenjoyeddoingitanddiditwithconfidence,Ididn'treallyseemyselfasaplayer.AndIprobablyfoundsomethingfrighteningabouttheideathattheminuteIactuallypublishedsomething,everyonewasgoingtojumponme.AndpartofthereasonwhySuppesandMcKinseytookmeundertheirwingisbecausetheythoughtthisguyreallyoughttogetsomestuffout.Theycertainlyeasedthethingformebywritingthings

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    withme.SoSuppesandMcKinseyhelpedmeoverthattosomeextent,andtheCarnappaper,asyousee,accidentallyfelltome.Nowitjusttakestwomoreelements.DanBennett,mygraduatestudent,waswritinghisdissertationwithme,andhewentofftoEnglandfortheyearandfoundoutaboutwhatElizabethAnscombeandStuartHampshirewereworkingon.HecamebacktoStanfordandwroteadissertationonthephilosophyofaction.Iwasreadingit,thinkingaboutit,andsoforth.IthoughtIsawthattheseguyshadmadeamistakeinthinkingthat,giventhepropertiesthatreason-explanationshave,thatsomehowreasonscouldn'tbecauses.AtthatpointMaryMothersill,whohappenedtobeontheprogramcommitteeoftheAmericanPhilosophicalAssociation,invitedmetobeontheprogramoftheEasternDivisionmeetings,andsoIwroteActions,ReasonsandCauses.Irememberthinkingthatapileofbrickswasgoingtofallonmeafterthatpresentation.Ididn'trealizethatifyoupublish,asfarasIcantell,noonewasgoingtopayanyattention.Lepore:Well,theydidtothatpaper!Davidson:Ultimately,butittakesalittlewhilebeforetheyrespond.Here'saninterestingfact:oncetherepliescamein,theywereallpositive,anditwasmanyyearsbeforeIstartedgettingnegativeresponsestoit.Lepore:TherearesomanythingsgoingoninActions,ReasonsandCauses,it'shardtobelievetherewasn'tadecade'sworkandthoughtalreadybehinditbeforeitwaswritten.Davidson:Well,therewasn'tadecadebehindit,buttherewereseveralyearsofsortofstitchingittogetherandworkingwithDanBennett.Iwasreadingallthethingsthathewasreading:Anscombe,Hampshire,andalltheseotherRedBookphilosophers.(p.253)Lepore:Whatwasthesecondelement?Davidson:TheotherthingthathappenedhereI'vebeenstewingaboutbeliefsentences.Ireallyhadahang-upaboutbeliefsentences,andIthoughtaboutthatforonesolidyear.WritingtheCarnappiecegotmethinkingaboutthesekindsofsentences.Justattherightmoment,IdiscoveredthelogicianAlfredTarski'spaperontheconceptoftruth.IreadtheWahreitsbegriff.Ittookmesixmonthstoworkmyselfthroughit.ButwhenIunderstoodit,itreallyturnedmeon.Still,ImightnotreallyhaveappreciateditifIhadn'tdonethestuffindecisiontheory.Ihadanappreciationforwhatit'sliketohaveaserioustheory,andIthinktheotherpeoplewhowereworkinginphilosophyoflanguagedidn'thaveanappreciationforwhatitwasliketohaveaserioustheory.So,look,therewerethesetwokindsofpeopleinverydifferentwaystherewerepeoplelikeTarski,whoknewwhataserioustheorywaslikealright,butdidn'thavemuchphilosophicalinterestTarskididn'tcomeatitfromaphilosophicalpointofviewandhewasn'tespeciallyinterestedinthesemanticsfornaturallanguagesoranythinglikethat.Ontheotherhand,therewereallthesepeopleworkingonthesemanticsofnaturallanguage,buttheydidn'thaveanyideaofwhatatheorywas.Isawhowtoputthesetwothingstogether.ItcametomeasiftheheavenshadopenedandthenIstartedwritingawholebunchofthings.Lepore:ThereareafewthingshereIdon'tget.SurelyCarnapwasinterestedinnaturallanguages,andheknewTarski'sworkandheknewaboutnaturallanguages.WhatwasmissinginTarski'sworkthatyousaw,atleastaccordingtoyourhypothesis?Davidson:Therearealotofmysteriesofthatsort,whereyousay,howcouldso-and-sonothaverecognizedsuch-and-such?Howcouldsomanypeoplehavefailedtoseewhata

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    problemthesemanticsofadverbswere,forexample?Therearejustendlessthingslikethiswhereyoucanaskyourself.ThesepeoplehadwhatittooktorecognizetheproblemandsoforthyourexampleofCarnapisanexcellentexamplehewrotethisseriesofthreebookswhileattheUniversityofChicago.Thefirstonewasonformalsyntax,thesecondoneonformalsemanticsinwhichhedevelopsaTarski-typetheoryoftruthandthethirdishisMeaningandNecessity.Itseemstomethatheforgotthesecondbookbeforewhenhewrotethelastbook.AlonzoChurchhadbroughtFregetohisattentionandhewasfascinated(p.254) withallthisapparatusofintensionandextension,butwhydidhenotremindhimselfofTarski,whichheclearlydidnot?ThenthereisQuine.HewasneverintoTarskiandhestillisn't;Ithinkhestilldoesn'tappreciateTarski.HowcansomeoneassmartasQuine,whohasknownTarskiallhislife,knowseverythingthat'sthere,whowrotethiswonderfullittlearticleonanapplicationofTarski'stheoryoftruth;heunderstoodeverythingaboutit;howcomehestilldoesn'treallyuseit?Lepore:Well,withCarnapthereisthisgrayareabetweendoingsemanticsanddoinglogic.Forexample,MeaningandNecessity,despiteitstitle,isreallyaboutinference.It'saboutwhyonesentenceimpliesanother;andallthatthattalkaboutstatedescriptionsisdoingissustaininginference.InyourpaperInDefenseofConventionTyoumakeveryclearthatthesetwoprojectsgetaccidentallyconflated.Tarskiisafocalpointherebecausehewasinterestedinbothprojects,butheisnotphilosophicalinawaytoappreciatethathisworkonthetruththeoryhooksupwithphilosophicalproblemssurroundingnaturallanguages.Davidson:Thatdoesn'tanswermyquestions.Lepore:ThereasonIgotexcitedaboutyourpaperTruthandMeaningisbecause,asI'vesaidinprint,evenifonedoesn'taccepttruth-conditionalsemantics,onemustbeimpressedbythispaperbecauseitlaysdownconditionsofadequacy,andasfarasIcantell,theysimplydidn'texistanywhereelseprior.Thewholeideathatonehastoconstructatheoryisnovelinthatpaper.Thenotionoftheory,ofcourse,hasbeenaroundinphilosophyforalongtime.Butthisnotionwasambiguousinphilosophyatthisstage.Itmightmeananalysis,asinstandardaccountsinthetheoryofknowledge.Here'saninterestingfact:notheoryofknowledgeIknowofissuesintheoremsoftheform,forexample:DonaldDavidsonknowsthatItalyisinEurope.Soclearlytheoriesinepistemologists'mouthsdon'tmeanthesamethingasitdidwhenyouusedtheterminTruthandMeaning.Theuseoftheoryasintheoryofknowledgeisaveryidiosyncraticuseoftheory.Thinkaboutatheoryofphysicsorchemistry.Youdon'tgetanenumerationoftruthsorananalysisoftheconceptofmatterinthetheoryofphysics.Sowherethenotionoftheoryinthetheoryofknowledgecomesfromisaninterestingpeculiarityofcontemporaryepistemology.Butstill,aphilosopherlikeCarnaphadthenotionof(p.255) theoryintherightsense.WhatIthinkhelackedwereclearconditionsofadequacy.Here'sagoodquestion:ifyougobackandreadMeaningandNecessityandaskyourselfwhatweretheconditionsofadequacyherethatwouldbeagoodprojectifwehadtheanswertothatquestion,wewouldhaveananswertothequestionhowCarnapmissedtheboat.Davidson:ThesamepointcanbemadewithHansReichenbach,withrespecttohislogicbook,SymbolicLogic.WhenIfirststartedgettingintothis,

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    Icouldn'tbelievethatIhadhitonsomethingthathadn'tbeenprettyobvioustotheseguys.SoIstartedworkingmywaythroughtheliterature.Iwentbacktothelogicism,theLogischeSyntaxderSpracheandsoforth.Ithoughtsomebodyheremusthavehadtheidea.Lepore:Itwasaround.IfyoureadC.I.Lewis,inparticular,hisargumentabouthowtranslationcouldn'tbesufficientfordeterminingmeaningsinceonecouldknowagrammarbookforArabicandhaveanArabicdictionarybutstillonewouldn'ttherebyunderstandArabic.Butthat'snotenough.Lewishasthisbrilliantobservationbuthedoesn'ttakeitanywhere.Davidson:IhadthesameexperiencewhenIgotinterestedinevents.Isimplycouldn'tbelievethatnobodyhadeverreallyfacedtheproblem,especiallysomeonelikeWhitehead,whosewholephilosophy,thephilosophyofprocess,wasabouteventsandhewasalogician.Ithoughttheremustbesomethingthere.ButIfoundnothing.Lepore:Iguess,likeothers,IalwaysthoughtthattheAction,Reasons,andCausesliteraturewasmuchmorecloselyrelatedtotheTruthandMeaningliteraturethanitinfactis.ButIalsoassociateyourinterestinactiontheorytoyourformerstudentDanBennett'sreturnfromOxford.Nowthatwaseightyearsbeforeanotherstudent,JohnWallace,showedupatStanford,andItendtoassociateyourinterestinphilosophyoflanguagewithWallace'sarrivalatStanford.Davidson:It'struethattherewasabouteightyear'sdifferencebetweenBennett'sdepartureandWallace'sarrivalatStanford.ButIwroteupalotofTruthandMeaninglongbeforeitwaspublished.Lepore:Well,ifonestudiestheCarnappieceyouwrote,youcanseesomeofwhat'sgoingoninTruthandMeaningalreadyforminginthatearlierpiece.Also,Irecallyoursaying,anditcertainlymakesgoodsense,thatsomeoftheideasthatoccupyyouinTruth(p.256) andMeaning,andcertainlyinRadicalInterpretationandBeliefandtheBasisofMeaning,areprovokedbyyourworkinthelaboratorywithSuppesandMcKinseyforexample,yourinterestinthepresentationprobleminexperimentaldecisiontheory.IexpectthatMcKinseyandSuppesdidn'tknowwhatwasbotheringyou.Butthisisclearlyaplacewhereyourinterestinthephilosophyoflanguageisbroughttobearonyourinterestinactiontheory(decisiontheory).Davidson:Well,infact,theseinterestsallgrewuptogether.Itwasn'tsomuchthepresentationproblematfirstthatconnectedthetwo.Itwasrathereventsthinkingaboutevents.Intheverybeginningthesetwothingsweresomewhatseparate.Actions,Reasons,andCauseswassimplyaresultofmyrealizingthatnoonehadagoodargumentagainstcausaltheoriesofaction.ThenIbecameinterestedinpracticalreasoning,andthatledtoHowisWeaknessoftheWillPossible?AllthesewerewrittenwhileIwasteachingthecourseinthephilosophyoflanguage.IthinkIwasslowertowritethatstuffupinthephilosophyoflanguagepartlybecauseIlackedconfidence.Ithoughtthat'samuchharderfield.Theguysthatwereinactiontheorywereinasomewhatmuddledstate.Noneofthemknewanylogic.ThereIfeltgreaterconfidence.IreallythoughtIsawclearlywhattheywereinamuddleabout.WhereasinphilosophyoflanguageIthoughtthatwiththesereallysmartpeopleit'snotgoingtobesoeasytosetthingsstraight.Inthebeginningthosetwothingsweresomewhatseparate.However,it'sobvioushowthesetwointerestsjustoverlapped.Becauseinphilosophyofactiontheanalysisofpropositional

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    attitudeshadalwaysbeenverycentral,andIwasverymuchintotheproblemoftheindividuationofactions.Sothatledtomydoingsemantics.ThoughIstartedoutoneachoftheprojectsseparately.Lepore:ItwasaroundthistimethatJohnWallaceshowedupatStanfordasyourgraduatestudentfreshoutofYale.Whatwashisinfluenceonyou?Davidson:MybasicideasinphilosophyoflanguagewereworkedoutbeforeWallacecamealong.ButhewasagreathelptomebecauseheknewmorelogicthanIdid,foronething,andhewasveryenthusiastic,infact,verypositiveaboutit.Hegotveryexcitedaboutmyproject.Hisdissertationcontributedtoit.Buthedidn'tgetmestartedinthewaythatDanBennettactuallygotmestartedonactiontheory.Still,itwasgreathavingJohnWallacearound.Ididn'tyethaveawhole(p.257) lotofconfidence.IthoughtthatifIgotanideathatworkshereinphilosophyoflanguage,thenundoubtedlyawholelotofotherpeoplehadit.Thisisanaturalreaction.AndIhadtopublishafewthingsbeforeIdiscoveredthatatleastIdidn'thavesomethingabsurdlywrong.SoWallacewasgreat,becausehewasenthusiasticandverysmart,andbytalkingwithhim,alotofthingsgotstraightenedout.Hehadinsightsthatwereextremelyuseful.Lepore:I'dliketostaywiththeTruthandMeaningpaperforawhile.Manyphilosophersareunclearaboutyourpositioninthatpaper.Areyouarevisionist,sayingthatallthereistoatheoryofmeaningiswhatatheoryoftruthprovides?Orareyouareductionist,inthesensethatmeaningistruth?Theideathereisthatinyourtheoryitappearsthatthepredicateistrueoccupiestheplacethepredicatemeansthatoncedid.So,theywonderwhetheryourideaistotrytoreconstructallmeaningfactsbyappealonlytotruthfacts.Thatis,areyouclaimingthattherearenomeaningfactsaboveandbeyondtruthfacts?Myinclination,onthebasisofhavingreadyoualltheseyearsandhavingtalkedtoyousomuchovertheyears,istosaythatyouneverthoughtaboutyourprograminthisway.Rather,youthoughtabouttherebeingacertainproject,interpretingandunderstandingspeakers,andthatit'sanopenquestionwhatwemustusetodothat.ButitistruethatinTruthandMeaningtherearepassagesthatifyoucometothatarticlewithacertainvocabularyyoucanfindevidenceforeachofthesedifferentideas.Davidson:Well,what'snotinTruthandMeaningbutwhatliesbehinditistheyearsofteachingphilosophyoflanguagewithoutanyonetogivemeanyguidance,reallywithoutanybackgroundinthesubject.SoIstartedoutasmanypeopledidinthosedays,readingOgdenandRichards'sTheMeaningofMeaningandCharlesMorris.Nowwhatlookedlikethecentralproblemtothemwastodefinetheconceptofmeaning:xmeansy,wherexisawordoraphraseorsentenceandGodknowswhatywassupposedtobeandyouwanted:iffwhat?Thatishowalotofpeoplewerethinkingaboutphilosophyoflanguage.Reallysmartpeoplesoughtanalysesofparticularlocutions,butneversaidanythingabouthowyoucouldtellwhetheryouhadcomeupwithacorrectsolutionoronwhatgroundsyoucriticizethesethingsasidefromjustadhocarguments.SoIthinkperhapsIfeltmorefrustratedbythissituationthatIfoundthesubjecttobeinthanIthinkotherpeopledid.Ontheonehand,somanyissuesseemedrathersharp:Whatismeaning?Howdoyoueventhinkabout(p.258) it?Wheredoyoustart?AndsomewherealongthelineIdiscoveredTarskiandIthought:youdon'tevenwant

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    toaskthequestionwhatismeaning.It'sthewrongquestion.Itwasahugeshiftofperspectivetogetawayfromworryingaboutwhatitistotalkaboutthemeaningofapredicate.ReadingTarskimademerealizethatthere'sawaytogetaroundallthatandsomewherealongthereQuineshowedupattheCenterforBehavioralStudiesatStanford.Atthatpointtheyinvitedpeoplewhowereatthecentertobringupanassociate,andIhadatermoffandIagreedtojustcomeandreadamanuscriptversionofwhatwastobecomehisWordandObject.Ireallydidn'tdoanythingelsethattermexceptreaditoverandoveragain,tryingtounderstandwhatwasgoingon.AndwhenIdid,Ithoughtitwasterrific.AndIsawagainthatitwasawholewayofapproachingproblemsinthephilosophyoflanguagethatotherpeoplehadn'tcaughtonto,hadn'teventhoughtabout,anditseemedmuchmorepromising,andsoIsortofslowlyputwhatIthoughtwasgoodinQuinewithwhatIhadfoundinTarski.Andthat'swheremygeneralapproachtothesubjectcamefrom.Butyouwouldn'tseeitthewayIsawitunlessyoucameintothewholesubjectatthetimeIdidinthelate1950s.Noonereallyknewwhattodoaboutthesubject,eventhougheveryonewasreallyfascinatedbyit.Lepore:SoQuinehadverylittleinfluenceonyourphilosophyoflanguageuntilrelativelylate,untilyouwereinyourforties.ThisIthinkwouldbeagreatsurprisetomanyreadersofyourwork.Davidson:That'sright.Myphilosophyoflanguagedidn'tgrowoutofmyrelationshipwithQuineatall.OnceIgotinterestedinthesubjectinadeepway,IwentbackandreadQuinefreshwithopeneyes,andIstartedteachingthisstuff.IhadbecomewellversedinQuine,butWordandObjectwassomethingnew,anditreallywasveryhardformetograspexactlywhatwasgoingoninit.Ireadthefirstcoupleofchaptersoverandoverandoveragain,justtryingtotakeitin.Lepore:Well,evenhereIthinkreadersmightleavewiththenotsouncommonimpressionthatDavidson'sphilosophyoflanguageisreallyjustmodifiedQuine.Thatwouldbeamistake.Quine,accordingtome,hasaverydifferentperspectivefromyours.Hestartsoffclearlyfromarevisionistpointofview.AsearlyashispaperTheProblemofMeaninginLinguistics,he'stellingusthatonlyveryfewfeaturesofourordinaryconceptofmeaningaresalvageable.Youdon'tthinkthatatall.Idon'tseearevisionistperspectiveinyourwritings.Lastly,there(p.259) istheRichardMontaguetradition,whichbringsusbacktoCarnap'sMeaningandNecessity.Carnapwasreallytryingtodevisetheoriesofmeaning,andhewasn'ttryingtoanalyzemeaningbysayingthatmeaningisanassociatedidea,orisassociatedbehavior,oranyoftheotherfamiliaranalyseswepresentinintroductoryphilosophyoflanguagecourses.Sowhat,then,isthedifferencebetweenyourprogramandtheCarnapianprogram,whichis,afterall,mucholder?Carnapwasn'tdoingmodeltheory.Hesaysheistryingtodeviseasemanticsfornaturallanguages.Here'sanotherwayofputtingthispoint.AccordingtoMichaelDummett,Fregewastryingtoprovideatheoryofmeaninginyoursenselongago.However,thisisdifficulttobelieve.IfyoureadtheKlemkeanthologyonFregewhichIbelievewasanimportantandinfluentialcollectionofessaysonFregeasrecentlyastwentyyearsago[i.e.1970]youclearlydon'tgetanythinglikeDummett'sperspectiveonFrege.Soclearly,justfromahistorical(orifyoulikeasociological)pointofview,allalongotherswerenotthinkingaboutFregeasDummettcounsels

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    usto.AndinfactIcan'thelp,tothecontrary,butwonderhowmuchyouactuallyinfluencedMichael'sinterpretationofFrege,atleastwithrespecttoreadingFregeasattemptingtodevisetheoriesofmeaninginyoursense.Davidson:Ithinktheideathattherewasawayofthinkingphilosophicallyaboutmeaningtiedtotheideaofgettingaserioussemantictheoryforasmuchofnaturallanguageasyoucouldwell,Iwasthefirstpersontosaythat,andIsayitinTruthandMeaning.ThereIsuggestedthatmydreamwastotrytodoforthesemanticsfornaturallanguagewhatNoamChomskywasdoingforthesyntaxofnaturallanguage.Buthedidn'thavequitethesameconceptofatheoryasIdid.Heknewwhatitwasliketogivearecursivedefinitionofasentence,forexample.ButwhenIwaswritingthatpaper,Icouldn'tbelievenoonethoughtaboutitthatway.SoIlookedaboutinCarnap,inReichenbach,andinQuine,andnoneofthemwasevendescribingthisasaproject.Tarskidiscouragedeverybodybysaying,ofcourse,youcan'tdothisfornaturallanguage.Quineneverthoughtofitintermsofatheoryatall.Ofcourse,hisdiscussionoftranslationcould,ifyouthinkofitnowwithalittletwist,couldberedescribedorre-expressedinaTarski-likewayButhecertainlywasn'tthinkingaboutitthiswayatthetimehewasfirstwritingaboutitinWordandObject.Lepore:BynowyouaregettingreadytoleaveStanford.(p.260) Davidson:IwasatStanfordeighteenyears.Istartedtherein1951,andIleftin1968.InthatperiodStanfordwentfrombeingamoreorlessinvisibleuniversitytobeingatopuniversity.Thatwasaperiodwhentherewasatremendousamountofmoneyavailableincertainareas.AndtheupperadministrationatStanfordwasfullofpeoplewhowerescientists,andtheyjustdecidedtotakeachanceinhiringseniorpeoplewhohadbiggrants.Theyweretakingachancebecausethemoneythesenewpeoplebroughtmightdryup.Butthiswaytheywereabletogetaterrificfacultyveryrapidly.Lepore:ButbythetimeyouleftStanford,thephilosophydepartmenthadgrowninstature,anditwasattractingverygoodgraduatestudents.Still,youhadnotreallypublishedalotbythistime,andyetyouclearlyhadabiginfluenceonthatdepartmentandonitsgraduatestudents.Davidson:ThereasonIhadaninfluenceonthegraduatestudentswasthattherewasn'tanyoneelseteachingthesecentralsubjects:epistemology,philosophyoflanguage,evenethics.Allthesearecentraltopics.Sonaturallythegraduatestudentsrevolvedaroundme.Iwastheonlypersonteachingthosesubjects,andalsoIwasfullofideas;Iwasreadingeverythingcomingoutandtryingtodigestit.Iwouldwritetheseideasup,andIwouldpassmymaterialout.Iwasfulloftopicstowritedissertationson,andalsoIbroughtthegraduatestudentsthere;Iwasdirectorofgraduatestudentsforyearsandyearsandyears,andIwouldgoaroundthecountryrecruitingthem.Iwouldtalktotheadministrationinordertogetmorefellowships.Lepore:ButwhendidyoubegintoattractattentionoutsideofStanford?Davidson:AssoonasActions,ReasonsandCausescameout,Istartedgettingoffersfromalloverthecountry.Oncethatpapercameout,Iwasinvitedtoallsortsofthings,andIwasgivingpapersalloverthecountryallofthetime.Ihadstuffreadytoread,butIwasslowinsendingitoutforpublication.Also,alotofpeopleinEnglandknewaboutme.IhadinvitedthemalltoStanford.DavidWigginsandIagreedaboutalotofstuffatthispoint.Hewasthefirstphilosopherin

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    EnglandtocatchontowhatIwasdoing.HewasactuallyinayoungergenerationofphilosophersthatIhadinfluenced,butIknewtheoldergenerationaswell.IknewGilbertRyleandJ.L.Austin.AllthesepeopleIknewquitewell.TheywouldbeinvitedtoStanfordforaquarterortogiveatalk,andnooneelseonthefacultypaidany(p.261) attentiontothem.IhadalotofstudentswhowereinterestedinwhattheseEnglishpeopleweredoing.WigginsandDummettwereinvitedoverandoveragain,andlateronDavidPears.EvenJohnWisdomvisited.TheyenjoyedvisitingStanford,andtherewasn'tanyoneelsetheygottoknowexceptme.Lepore:SoleavingStanfordmusthavebeenextremelydifficult?Davidson:Itwasahugething.ForonethingIlovedmyhouseandIlovedthearea.ButIthoughtthepoliticsoftheuniversityweredominatedbythescientists,andIkepttryingtogetthemtohireotherpeopleinphilosophy.PatSuppes,whobythenwasintheadministration,hadtheidea,whichIdon'tthinkwasabsurd,thatthephilosophydepartmentshouldbefullofformalpeoplewhoaddressedstandardphilosophicalsubjectsfromaformalperspective.ButI,instead,wantedtobesurroundedbypeoplewhowerereallysteepedinthesubject,whethertheyhadaformalbackgroundornot.Suppes,instead,wantedlogicianswhoknewsomethingaboutothersubjects.WehiredJaakkoHintikka,whoknewsomethingaboutepistemologyandthehistoryofphilosophyfromalogicalpointofview.WehiredDagfinnFllesdal,whoknewsomethingaboutContinentalphilosophy,butdon'tforgetthathewasalogician,astudentinfactofQuine's.Andsoon.Iwantedsomethingdifferent.Iwasinterestedinphilosophyofmind,inepistemology.Iwasoperatingonmyownexceptformyowngraduatestudents.Iwantedthekindofchallengethatthisdidn'tprovide.Lepore:AndsoyouleftStanfordforPrinceton?DoyouthinkyourworkchangedsignificantlyafteryouarrivedatPrinceton?That'snotobvioustoareader.Davidson:Ithinkso.AlmostatonceIwasinvitedtogivetheJohnLockeLecturesatOxford,whichatthatpointwereprettyprestigious.Thatcameattheendoftheacademicyear196970.IspentthatyearattheSCSBS[StanfordCenterforSocialandBehavioralSciences]andduringthatyearIwroteaboutsixofmybest-knownpapers.IhadjustspenttwoyearsatPrinceton.ThosepapersweredefinitelybetterasaresultofmymixingitupwithDavidLewis,GilHarman,TomNagel.Iwassuddenlyinthemidstofabunchofveryactivepeople.Allthosepeopleinfluencedme,includingolderoneslikeStuartHampshireandGregoryVlastos.IthinkitwasagoodideatogetintoanatmospherewhereIwasn'ttheonlypersondealingwiththesetopics.It'seasytoconvinceyourselfthatyouhaveeverythingrightifyouhaveno(p.262) onearoundwhoisinapositiontochallengeyou,andIknewStanfordwasnotthebestintellectualenvironment.AtPrinceton,alotofpeoplewouldcometomyseminars.ItalkedalotofphilosophywithGilHarmanandCarlHempel,andjustpsychologicallyitmadeadifferencetome.ItwassortoflikegoingfromhighschooltoHarvard.Lepore:Youhaveatendencytoworkandreworkpapersbeforereleasingthemforpublication.Davidson:Yes,that'strue.In1969,IwenttoAustralia,andIgavetheDavidGavinLectures.TheseareAustralia'sJohnLockeLectures,thebiglectureseriesattheUniversityofAdelaide.[OtherstolectureinthisserieshavebeenRyle,Quine,Feigl,LewisHempel,Dennett,andPutnam.]TheAustralianphilosopherJ.J.C.

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    Smartwasreadingmystuff,andhearrangedformyinvitation.TheselecturesconstituteatleasthalfofthelecturesinmycollectionActionsandEvents.ThesameistrueofmyJohnLockeLectures.AllbutoneoftheseendedupinmycollectionTruthandInterpretation.That'saconsiderablebodyofstuff.Enoughtofilltwovolumes.TheoneofmyLockeLecturesthatisn'tthereistheonethatultimatelybecamemyfirstAmericanPhilosophicalAssociationPresidentialAddress,OntheVeryIdeaofaConceptualScheme.Iworkedonthatpaperforsevenyears.Ireadallthesepapersallovertheworldforseveralyearsbeforetheywerepublished.Lepore:Inretrospect,doyouthinkthemovetoPrincetonwasagoodoneforyou?Davidson:IthinkbeingatStanfordformewaspsychologicallyverygood.IwasfiftywhenIarrivedatPrinceton.IfIhadgonestraighttoPrinceton,thereisnochanceIwouldhavebuiltupallthisstuffinalltheseareasbecausetherewerepeopletherewhoknewstuffaboutit.ItwasonlybecauseIwasatStanfordandnobodywasdoingthosethingsthatitgavemeachancetomoveinanydirectionIfeltwithoutanyonetoopposeme.Lepore:AfterPrincetontherewasthemovetotheresearchinstitutiontheRockefellerUniversityinNewYorkCity.Davidson:Ionlytaughtfull-timeatPrincetonfortwoyears.Theyhadbroughtmeinaschairmanofthephilosophydepartment.TheythoughtpeoplelikeTomNagelandGilHarmanandevenPaulBenacerrafweretooyoungtobechairman.Ithinkthatwasamistake(p.263) ontheirpart.Afterthat,althoughIwasattheRockefeller,IwasofficiallyonthestaffatPrinceton,notjustavisitor.Ihadthisspecialtitle,LecturerwiththerankofProfessor.AboutRockefeller,firstIhavetotellyouthatallofmymovesinonewayoranotherwerepartlyrelatedtowomen,exceptgoingtoStanford.WhileVirginia,myfirstwife,andIwereatStanford,ourmarriagegotworse.VirginiawasveryeagertogobacktotheEastCoast,muchmoreeagerthanIwas.IhadgoodreasonstoleaveStanford,andshereallywantedtogo.Thesetwothingsco-operated.ShefeltthattheWestCoastwasnowhereartistically.Shewasquitewrongaboutthat.Infact,theWestCoastwasquiteactiveatthatpointinawayinwhichtheEastCoastwasn't,andinfactshedidn'tgetthekindofboostthatshethoughtshewasgoingtogetbygoingtotheEastCoast.Infact,shedidbetterontheWestCoast.ButherdesiretogobacktotheEastCoastwaspartlyanexpressionofherdissatisfactionwithourrelationship.ButPrincetonwasbackwater,andthatwasonereasonformovingfromPrincetontotheRockefeller.Thesecondreasonwasmyreason.TherewasallthisstuffIwantedtowriteabout,andwhowouldn'twantajobwhereyoudidn'thavetodoanythingyoudidn'twant?[RockefellerUniversity,beingaresearchinstitution,hadnoofficialstudentsorclasses.Eachfacultymemberwasrequiredtodonomorethanhisindividualresearch.]So,ImadeanarrangementwithPrincetonthatIwouldteachthereonesemestereachyear.ThatgavemetheopportunitytoteachthewayIlike.SoIneverstoppedteaching.ThemainthingIworriedaboutwasthatIwouldlackthestimulationIgotfromteaching.Teachingkeepsyoumoving.SoIaskedmyselfalot,wouldIreallyflourishunderthoseconditions?AndIinterviewedalotofpeoplewhowereattheRockefelleror,moreimportantly,hadleftitforexample,RobertNozickandSydneyShoemaker.Thosewerethemainones.Isawthedangerveryclearly,butIthoughtitwouldbecowardlynottoacceptanofferwithsuch

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    opportunity.Itwasgrand,trulygrand.Anythingyouwantedtodo,theydidn'tjustletyoudoit,theywouldhelpyoudoitpayyourtransportation,etc.AndsoIwenttotheRockefellerin196970,rightafterIspentayearattheStanfordCenterfortheBehavioralSciences.Lepore:Well,let'ssee,youspenteighteenyearsatStanford.Youbegantherefairlyyoung,andyoulefttheretobecomechairmanofarguablythebestphilosophydepartmentintheworld.Nowalotofpeoplecomerightoutofgraduateschool,movingaheadfullsteam,(p.264)publishinginqualityjournalsregularly,beingofferedjobsatthetopuniversities,etc.Thatwasn'ttrueofyou.Davidson:No,itwasn't.PartofithadtodowiththeyearsintheNavy.IwaslosingtouchallthoseyearsIwasintheNavy.Ididn'tfeelbehind,becauseIdidn'tevenhavetheconceptofanactivecareer.ItwasonlyafterbeingatStanfordforawhilethatIbegantohaveideasthatwereinterestingandthatIstartedfeelinguptightaboutnotpublishing.Buttwothingshappened.PatSuppes,whowasyoungerthanI,waspublishingupastormandgettingpromotionafterpromotion,anditwasimpossibleformenottonoticethis.Theotherthatgoadedmeintopublishingwasthatmystudentsstartedpublishingmyideas.Theyweren'tstealingfromme.No,quitethecontrary.Ibegantosay,Ibettergetsomethingoutmyself.Butifthere'sonethingthatdistinguishesmygenerationfromyoursinphilosophyanyway,itisthatpeoplenowingraduateschoolformtheconceptofwhatit'sliketobeaprofessionaloperator,tohaveacareer,andpublishandsoforth,andIjustneverwentthroughthat.Idon'tknowwhetherthisdistinguishesmefrommyfriendsornot,orwhetherwewereallthatway.Icansaythatwhateversuccessescamemyway,Ihaven'taimedforthem,andtheyalwayssurprisedme;andstillwhensomebodyintroducesmeashavingdonethisandthis,andhavingaccomplishedsuch-and-such,I'mactuallyembarrassed.Ithink,Who,me?Lepore:I'dliketoaskyouaboutyourwritingstyle,ifImight.Howwouldyoudescribeyourwritingstyle?Davidson:Ibeginmostofmypaperswitheitheraproblemoraquestion.IthinktheonlythingIcansayaboutmystyleisthatIsometimesfinditincrediblyhardtostartwriting.Ioftenimaginethefirstsentenceandthenaskmyself,Wait!Whatcomesnext?Prettysoon,I'mwritingthewholepaperinmyhead,andanyprobleminthecompositionororganizationofthetextstopsmefromevenwritingthefirstsentenceforfearthatIwouldbesomehowtrapped.WhenIdofinallywritesomething,Ioftenfindthatthefirstcoupleofpages,whichusuallysortofeasemeintothesubject,arebetterleftout.So,I'llthrowawaythesepainfullyconstructedearlypagescompletely.Lepore:Butit'smyimpressionthatyourpapersundergomanyrevisions.Isthisnottrue?(p.265) Davidson:Idon'tdoagreatdealofrevising.IalwaysbelievethatIhaveaprettyclearideaabouthowapaperisgoingtogobeforeIstartwriting.However,inthethroesofcomposingapaper,IfindthatIregularlythinkaboutthepaper.WhenI'mtryingtogotosleeporwhenI'mhalfasleep,waysofputtingthingsoftenoccurtome,orwhenI'mnotinthemidstofwriting,anewideaorasolutionforsomeproblemoforganizationwillcometome.Ifindthattheserelaxedmomentsareessentialinmycomposingprocess.

    (p.266)

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