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Full Idea
It may be doubted whether relations can be adequately characterised by anything except the fact that they relate.
Gist of Idea
The only thing we can say about relations is that they relate
Source
Bertrand Russell (Meinong on Complexes and Assumptions [1904], p.27)
Book Ref
Russell,Bertrand: 'Essays in Analysis', ed/tr. Lackey,Douglas [George Braziller 1973], p.27
A Reaction
We can characterise a rope that ties things together. If I say 'stand to his left', do I assume the existence of one of the relata and the relation, but without the second relata? How about 'you two stand over there, with him on the left'?
| 21532 | Full empiricism is not tenable, but empirical investigation is always essential [Russell] |
| 21533 | Contingency arises from tensed verbs changing the propositions to which they refer [Russell] |
| 21534 | The only thing we can say about relations is that they relate [Russell] |
| 21535 | Objects only exist if they 'occupy' space and time [Russell] |
| 21536 | When I perceive a melody, I do not perceive the notes as existing [Russell] |
| 21538 | If two people perceive the same object, the object of perception can't be in the mind [Russell] |
| 21537 | I assume we perceive the actual objects, and not their 'presentations' [Russell] |
| 21539 | Excluded middle can be stated psychologically, as denial of p implies assertion of not-p [Russell] |
| 21540 | Relational propositions seem to be 'about' their terms, rather than about the relation [Russell] |
| 21541 | The complexity of the content correlates with the complexity of the object [Russell] |
| 21542 | Do incorrect judgements have non-existent, or mental, or external objects? [Russell] |
| 21543 | If p is false, then believing not-p is knowing a truth, so negative propositions must exist [Russell] |
| 21544 | It seems that when a proposition is false, something must fail to subsist [Russell] |