Single Idea 5774

[catalogued under 19. Language / B. Reference / 2. Denoting]

Full Idea

Denoting phrases never have any meaning in themselves, but every proposition in whose verbal expression they occur has a meaning.

Clarification

'Denoting' is the same as reference

Gist of Idea

Denoting phrases are meaningless, but guarantee meaning for propositions

Source

Bertrand Russell (On Denoting [1905], p.43)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'Logic and Knowledge', ed/tr. Marsh,Robert Charles [Routledge 1956], p.43


A Reaction

This is the important idea that the sentence is the basic unit of meaning, rather than the word. I'm not convinced that this dispute needs to be settled. Words are pretty pointless outside of propositions, and propositions are impossible without words.