Single Idea 10634

[catalogued under 19. Language / C. Assigning Meanings / 3. Predicates]

Full Idea

The predicate 'is on the table' is 'distributive', since some things are on the table if each one is, whereas the predicate 'form a circle' is 'non-distributive', since it is not analytic that when some things form a circle, each one forms a circle.

Gist of Idea

Predicates are 'distributive' or 'non-distributive'; do individuals do what the group does?

Source

Øystein Linnebo (Plural Quantification [2008], 1.1)

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.4


A Reaction

The first predicate can have singular or plural subjects, but the second requires a plural subject? Hm. 'The rope forms a circle'. The second is example is not true, as well as not analytic.