Single Idea 11988

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 2. Descriptions / c. Theory of definite descriptions]

Full Idea

Russell's analysis of sentences containing definite descriptions has as an immediate consequence the doctrine that molecular sentences containing definite descriptions are syntactically ambiguous as regards the scope of the definite description.

Gist of Idea

Russell's analysis means molecular sentences are ambiguous over the scope of the description

Source

comment on Bertrand Russell (On Denoting [1905]) by David Kaplan - How to Russell a Frege-Church I

Book Reference

'The Possible and the Actual', ed/tr. Loux,Michael J. [Cornell 1979], p.211


A Reaction

Presumably this is a virtue of Russell's account, and an advert for analytic philosophy, because it reveals an ambiguity which was there all the time.