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    Carmelics

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
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    Home/Original/inverse
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    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Terms like 'individual' should be considered singular expressions, specifically 'range-narrowed' expressions like 'this man'.

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    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
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    • 1.Genuine singular expressions presuppose a fixed, determinate referent independent of contextual narrowing operations.
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    • 2.Terms like 'individual' function as sortal predicates applicable across indefinitely many entities, not as contextually bound demonstratives.
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    • 3.A term that requires an additional act of intellect to achieve singular reference is not itself singular but a general term with contextual supplementation.
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    Reason for 2 of 2
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    • 1.Frege's distinction between concept and object establishes that singular terms must secure determinate reference through sense alone, without relying on set-membership presuppositions.
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    • 2.A 'range-narrowed' expression that depends on a prior domain of quantification behaves logically as a bound variable, not a genuine singular term like a proper name or demonstrative.
      ?

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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Terms like 'individual' identify a singular referent as a member of a given set of individuals.
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    • 2.A term like 'individual' presupposes a general concept (that of being), the range of which is narrowed to a unique object among beings by an act of our intellect.
      ?

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