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Single Idea 10670

[filed under theme 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 1. Naming / d. Singular terms ]

Full Idea

Helen Cartwright calls 'a number of' a 'singulariser', an expression whose linguistic function is to convert to a syntactically neutral form an expression whose semantic value remains plural. It is a great convenience grammatically.

Gist of Idea

A 'singulariser' converts a plural like 'number of' to a syntactically neutral form

Source

report of Helen Cartwright (On Plural Reference and Set Theory [1993]) by Keith Hossack - Plurals and Complexes 2

Book Ref

-: 'British Soc for the Philosophy of Science' [-], p.416

A Reaction

Compare Hofweber's Idea 10004, suggesting it is a crucial psychological convenience for reasoning, as well as a 'grammatical' convenience.

Related Idea

Idea 10004 Our minds are at their best when reasoning about objects [Hofweber]

The 16 ideas with the same theme [any phrase intended to pick out a single object]:

10510 Frege ascribes reference to incomplete expressions, as well as to singular terms [Frege, by Hale]
7757 "Nobody" is not a singular term, but a quantifier [Russell, by Lycan]
2612 Russell rewrote singular term names as predicates [Russell, by Ayer]
9868 An expression refers if it is a singular term in some true sentences [Wright,C, by Dummett]
3137 Varieties of singular terms are used to designate token particulars [Rey]
7755 Singular terms refer, using proper names, definite descriptions, singular personal pronouns, demonstratives, etc. [Lycan]
12230 Singular terms refer if they make certain atomic statements true [Hale/Wright]
10670 A 'singulariser' converts a plural like 'number of' to a syntactically neutral form [Cartwright,H, by Hossack]
10312 Often the same singular term does not ensure reliable inference [Hale]
10313 Plenty of clear examples have singular terms with no ontological commitment [Hale]
10316 We should decide whether singular terms are genuine by their usage [Hale]
10322 If singular terms can't be language-neutral, then we face a relativity about their objects [Hale]
10001 An adjective contributes semantically to a noun phrase [Hofweber]
21636 'Singular terms' are not found in modern linguistics, and are not the same as noun phrases [Hofweber]
21637 If two processes are said to be identical, that doesn't make their terms refer to entities [Hofweber]
16357 Mental files are the counterparts of singular terms [Recanati]