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Full Idea
In 'I met a unicorn' the four words together make a significant proposition, and the word 'unicorn' is significant, …but the two words 'a unicorn' do not form a group having a meaning of its own. It is an indefinite description describing nothing.
Gist of Idea
'I met a unicorn' is meaningful, and so is 'unicorn', but 'a unicorn' is not
Source
Bertrand Russell (Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy [1919], XVI)
Book Ref
Russell,Bertrand: 'Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy' [George Allen and Unwin 1975], p.170
14455 | 'I met a unicorn' is meaningful, and so is 'unicorn', but 'a unicorn' is not [Russell] |
7760 | Russell only uses descriptions attributively, and Strawson only referentially [Donnellan, by Lycan] |
10440 | An object can be described without being referred to [Bach] |
15158 | Indefinite descriptions are quantificational in subject position, but not in predicate position [Soames] |