Single Idea 21615

[catalogued under 19. Language / B. Reference / 1. Reference theories]

Full Idea

The predicate 'is a prime number greater than all other prime numbers' is necessarily not true of anything, but it is not semantically defective, for it occurs in sentences that constitute a sound proof that there is no such number.

Clarification

It is proven that there is no greatest prime number

Gist of Idea

References to the 'greatest prime number' have no reference, but are meaningful

Source

Timothy Williamson (Vagueness [1994], 6.2)

Book Reference

Williamson,Timothy: 'Vagueness' [Routledge 1996], p.168


A Reaction

One might reply that the description can be legitimately mentioned, but not legitimately used.