Single Idea 20294

[catalogued under 19. Language / E. Analyticity / 1. Analytic Propositions]

Full Idea

If Bob is married to Sue, then Sue is married to Bob. If x bigger than y, and y bigger than z, x is bigger than z. The symmetry of 'marriage' or transitivity of 'bigger than' are not obviously 'contained in' the corresponding thoughts.

Gist of Idea

'Married' does not 'contain' its symmetry, nor 'bigger than' its transitivity

Source

Georges Rey (The Analytic/Synthetic Distinction [2013], 1.2)

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.3


A Reaction

[Also 'if something is red, then it is coloured'] This is a Fregean criticism of Kant. It is not so much that Kant was wrong, as that the concept of analyticity is seen to have a much wider application than Kant realised. Especially in mathematics.

Related Idea

Idea 20291 If the predicate is contained in the subject of a judgement, it is analytic; otherwise synthetic [Kant]