Single Idea 8273

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 10. Properties as Predicates]

Full Idea

"The Thames is broad in London" might be taken as 'The Thames is broad-in-London', or as 'The Thames is-in-London broad', or as 'The Thames-in-London is broad'. I would urge the superiority of the second one, as an analysis of the normal meaning.

Gist of Idea

Is 'the Thames is broad in London' relational, or adverbial, or segmental?

Source

E.J. Lowe (The Possibility of Metaphysics [1998], 5.8)

Book Reference

Lowe,E.J.: 'The Possibility of Metaphysics' [OUP 2001], p.132


A Reaction

He uses the example to attack the perdurance view of objects (i.e. the third analysis). I think I agree with Lowe, but I'm not sure, and I just love the example. Read the second as 'The Thames is (in London) broad'? 'Is' of existence, or predication?