Single Idea 13999

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 2. Passage of Time / k. Temporal truths]

Full Idea

People sometimes think that 'Socrates was a philosopher' expresses something like a true, singular proposition about Socrates. They're making a mistake, but still, this explains why they think it is true.

Gist of Idea

People are mistaken when they think 'Socrates was a philosopher' says something

Source

Ned Markosian (A Defense of Presentism [2004], 3.8)

Book Reference

'Persistence: contemporary readings', ed/tr. Haslanger,S/|Kurtz,RM [MIT 2006], p.322


A Reaction

A classic error theory, about our talk of the past. Personally I would say that the sentence really is true, and that needing a tangible object to refer to is a totally bogus requirement. 'I wonder if there are any scissors in the house?'