Single Idea 4465

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

Full Idea

There are four uses of the word "is" in English: as existence ('he is at home'), as predication ('he is tall'), as identity ('he is the man I saw'), and as classification ('he is British').

Gist of Idea

Note that "is" can assert existence, or predication, or identity, or classification

Source

PG (Db (ideas) [2031])

Book Reference


A Reaction

This seems a nice instance of the sort of point made by analytical philosophy, which can lead to horrible confusion in other breeds of philosophy when it is overlooked.