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Single Idea 13977

[filed under theme 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 3. Meaning as Speaker's Intention ]

Full Idea

If I have uttered my sentence aloud, a listener can both understand what I say or grasp my meaning, and also infer to my state of mind.

Gist of Idea

When I utter a sentence, listeners grasp both my meaning and my state of mind

Source

Gilbert Ryle (Are there propositions? [1930], I)

Book Ref

Ryle,Gilbert: 'Collected Essays 2 1929-1968' [Routledge 2009], p.16

A Reaction

This simple observations seems rather important. If we shake written words onto the floor, they might add up to a proper sentence, but half of the point of a sentence is missing. Irony trades on the gap between meaning and state of mind.

The 13 ideas from 'Are there propositions?'

13989 There are no propositions; they are just sentences, used for thinking, which link to facts in a certain way [Ryle]
13977 When I utter a sentence, listeners grasp both my meaning and my state of mind [Ryle]
13976 'Propositions' name what is thought, because 'thoughts' and 'judgments' are too ambiguous [Ryle]
13981 Several people can believe one thing, or make the same mistake, or share one delusion [Ryle]
13979 Logic studies consequence, compatibility, contradiction, corroboration, necessitation, grounding.... [Ryle]
13980 If you like judgments and reject propositions, what are the relata of incoherence in a judgment? [Ryle]
13978 Husserl and Meinong wanted objective Meanings and Propositions, as subject-matter for Logic [Ryle]
13982 If we accept true propositions, it is hard to reject false ones, and even nonsensical ones [Ryle]
13983 Representation assumes you know the ideas, and the reality, and the relation between the two [Ryle]
13985 A true proposition seems true of one fact, but a false proposition seems true of nothing at all. [Ryle]
13984 Two maps might correspond to one another, but they are only 'true' of the country they show [Ryle]
13988 Many sentences do not state facts, but there are no facts which could not be stated [Ryle]
13987 We may think in French, but we don't know or believe in French [Ryle]