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    Singular propositions about non-existent past individuals... — Carmelics
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    Singular propositions about non-existent past individuals are problematic because the proposition's constituent would need to have determinate properties (age, position) that are absurd to attribute to an abstract constituent

    Philosophy of Language
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    2 reasons for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
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    • 1.On Russellian singular propositions, the constituent IS the individual, not a mode of presentation, so all of the individual's intrinsic properties travel with it.
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    • 2.Concrete individuals necessarily instantiate spatiotemporal properties like age and location as part of their fundamental ontological constitution (per four-dimensionalist metaphysics).
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    • 3.An abstract propositional slot cannot coherently inherit spatiotemporal determinations from a concrete entity without generating a category error that undermines the proposition's truth conditions.
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    Reason for 2 of 2
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    • 1.Frege's insight that reference requires a 'mode of presentation' implies that purely constituent-based singular propositions lack the descriptive apparatus needed to fix reference for non-existents.
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    • 2.Without a mediating sense or description, the bare constituent of a past individual is ontologically inert and cannot ground the proposition's directedness toward that individual.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
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    • 1.A singular proposition contains the individual itself as a constituent
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    • 2.Socrates is dead and no longer exists
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    • 3.If Socrates is a constituent of the proposition 'Socrates died', then Socrates must be a determinate age and in a determinate position
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    Topics

    Philosophy of LanguageModality & Possibility

    Key Terms

    Abstract constituent(as used in logic and philosophy of language)
    A component or part of a statement that exists as an idea or concept rather than as a concrete, physical thing.
    Determinate properties(as used in metaphysics and philosophy of language)
    Specific, definite characteristics or qualities that something has—like having a precise age or exact location, rather than vague or unclear ones.
    Non-existent(as used in metaphysics and logic)
    Something that doesn't exist or never existed in reality.
    constituent(Russellian/direct reference theories of propositions)
    An entity that is literally part of a proposition, as the individual themselves is part of a singular proposition
    proposition(Used in the context of a semantic theory sensitive to differences in subject matter.)
    The content expressed by a sentence, individuated at least in part by the subject matter of the sentence and the contents of its subsentential expressions.
    singular proposition(Used to explain why proposition (7) would require George Bush to exist in any world where proposition (7) exists.)
    A proposition whose constituents include the actual object(s) it is about, such that the proposition cannot exist without those objects existing.

    Connections

    2 topics

    Personal Identity1 linkedAfterlife & Death1 linked

    Related

    A singular proposition contains the individual itself as a constituentAn abstract propositional slot cannot coherently inherit spatiotemporal determin...

    Source

    AI-extracted1/3 agreementValid
    SEP: propositions-singular
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    (9) seems like a true singular proposition, as Socrates died long ago. How then is (9) true, as its constituent Socrates does not exist and so it does not exist? This is clearly the temporal analog of the modal problem discussed in the previous section. Moreover, if (9) is a singular proposition, then what is the constituent of (9) like? How old is it? Is it sitting or standing? It seems absurd to say that the age of a constituent of a proposition is thus and so and that it is sitting and not st
    Extraction notes

    Validity: Extracted via Max plan + API grounding/validity checks

    Details

    Concrete individuals necessarily instantiate spatiotemporal properties like age ...
    Frege's insight that reference requires a 'mode of presentation' implies that pu...
    +6 moreShow less
    If Socrates is a constituent of the proposition 'Socrates died', then Socrates m...It is absurd to attribute a determinate age and physical position to a constitue...No person exists without being a determinate age and being in a determinate posi...On Russellian singular propositions, the constituent IS the individual, not a mo...Socrates is dead and no longer existsWithout a mediating sense or description, the bare constituent of a past individ...

    Similar

    It is absurd to attribute a determinate age and physical position to a...82%Propositions like (7) — propositions about possibly non-existent indiv...80%There can be no singular proposition about a non-existent individual79%No person exists without being a determinate age and being in a determ...78%
    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    3 (2 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit