Single Idea 14456

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 5. Linguistic Analysis]

Full Idea

The is of 'Socrates is human' expresses the relation of subject and predicate; the is of 'Socrates is a man' expresses identity. It is a disgrace to the human race that it employs the same word 'is' for these entirely different ideas.

Gist of Idea

'Socrates is human' expresses predication, and 'Socrates is a man' expresses identity

Source

Bertrand Russell (Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy [1919], XVI)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy' [George Allen and Unwin 1975], p.172


A Reaction

Does the second one express identity? It sounds more like membership to me. 'Socrates is the guy with the hemlock' is more like identity.