Single Idea 18013

[catalogued under 2. Reason / F. Fallacies / 8. Category Mistake / b. Category mistake as syntactic]

Full Idea

The embedding data (such as 'John said that the number two is green', compared to '*John said that me likes apples') strongly suggests that category mistakes are not syntactically ill-formed.

Gist of Idea

Embedded (in 'he said that…') category mistakes show syntax isn't the problem

Source

Ofra Magidor (Category Mistakes [2013], 2.4)

Book Reference

Magidor,Ofra: 'Category Mistakes' [OUP 2013], p.39


A Reaction

Sounds conclusive. The report of John's category error, unlike the report of his remark about apples, seems perfectly syntactically acceptable.