Philosophical
Paradox of Analysis
How can analysis be informative if correct?
Overview
A philosophical puzzle about the nature and value of conceptual analysis.
A conceptual analysis like 'bachelors are unmarried men' should be informative. But if correct, it's just 'bachelors are bachelors' (since that's what bachelor means), which is trivial. If it's informative, the concepts differ, so the analysis seems wrong. How can analysis be both correct and informative?