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Single Idea 1773
[filed under theme 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 7. Meaning Holism / a. Sentence meaning
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Full Idea
A sentence is always significative of something, but a word by itself has no signification.
Gist of Idea
A sentence always has signification, but a word by itself never does
Source
report of Zeno (Citium) (fragments/reports [c.294 BCE]) by Diogenes Laertius - Lives of Eminent Philosophers 07.Ze.28
Book Ref
Diogenes Laertius: 'Diogenes Laertius', ed/tr. Yonge,C.D. [Henry G. Bohn 1853], p.280
A Reaction
This is the Fregean dogma. Words obviously can signify, but that is said to be parasitic on their use in sentences. It feels like a false dichotomy to me. Much sentence meaning is compositional.
The
27 ideas
from 'fragments/reports'
20801
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A wise man's chief strength is not being tricked; nothing is worse than error, frivolity or rashness
[Zeno of Citium, by Cicero]
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1771
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When shown seven versions of the mowing argument, he paid twice the asking price for them
[Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]
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20770
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Philosophy has three parts, studying nature, character, and rational discourse
[Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]
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6022
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Someone who says 'it is day' proposes it is day, and it is true if it is day
[Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]
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7555
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Zeno achieved the statement of the problems of infinitesimals, infinity and continuity
[Russell on Zeno of Citium]
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20860
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Whatever participates in substance exists
[Zeno of Citium, by Stobaeus]
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21397
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Perception an open hand, a fist is 'grasping', and holding that fist is knowledge
[Zeno of Citium, by Long]
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20799
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A grasp by the senses is true, because it leaves nothing out, and so nature endorses it
[Zeno of Citium, by Cicero]
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20797
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If a grasped perception cannot be shaken by argument, it is 'knowledge'
[Zeno of Citium, by Cicero]
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21395
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One of Zeno's books was 'That Which is Appropriate'
[Zeno of Citium, by Long]
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21398
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A presentation is true if we judge that no false presentation could appear like it
[Zeno of Citium, by Cicero]
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1770
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When a slave said 'It was fated that I should steal', Zeno replied 'Yes, and that you should be beaten'
[Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]
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3799
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A dog tied to a cart either chooses to follow and is pulled, or it is just pulled
[Zeno of Citium, by Hippolytus]
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21402
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Incorporeal substances can't do anything, and can't be acted upon either
[Zeno of Citium, by Cicero]
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2649
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If tuneful flutes grew on olive trees, you would assume the olive had some knowledge of the flute
[Zeno of Citium]
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20816
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A body is required for anything to have causal relations
[Zeno of Citium, by Cicero]
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1773
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A sentence always has signification, but a word by itself never does
[Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]
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20841
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Zeno said live in agreement with nature, which accords with virtue
[Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]
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1774
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Since we are essentially rational animals, living according to reason is living according to nature
[Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]
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20863
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The goal is to 'live in agreement', according to one rational consistent principle
[Zeno of Citium, by Stobaeus]
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2662
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Zeno saw virtue as a splendid state, not just a source of splendid action
[Zeno of Citium, by Cicero]
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5964
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Zeno says there are four main virtues, which are inseparable but distinct
[Zeno of Citium, by Plutarch]
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20822
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There is no void in the cosmos, but indefinite void outside it
[Zeno of Citium, by Ps-Plutarch]
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20807
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The cosmos and heavens are the substance of god
[Zeno of Citium, by Diog. Laertius]
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2648
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Things are more perfect if they have reason; nothing is more perfect than the universe, so it must have reason
[Zeno of Citium]
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20811
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Since the cosmos produces what is alive and rational, it too must be alive and rational
[Zeno of Citium]
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20810
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Rational is better than non-rational; the cosmos is supreme, so it is rational
[Zeno of Citium]
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