Single Idea 15158

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 2. Descriptions / a. Descriptions]

Full Idea

The indefinite description in 'A man will meet you' is naturally treated as quantificational, but an occurrence in predicative position, in 'Jones is not a philosopher', doesn't have a natural quantificational counterpart.

Gist of Idea

Indefinite descriptions are quantificational in subject position, but not in predicate position

Source

Scott Soames (Philosophy of Language [2010], 1.23)

Book Reference

Soames,Scott: 'Philosophy of Language' [Princeton 2010], p.24