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Full Idea
In some sense which it would be very desirable to define, a relational proposition seems to be 'about' its terms, in a way in which it is not about the relation.
Gist of Idea
Relational propositions seem to be 'about' their terms, rather than about the relation
Source
Bertrand Russell (Meinong on Complexes and Assumptions [1904], p.53)
Book Ref
Russell,Bertrand: 'Essays in Analysis', ed/tr. Lackey,Douglas [George Braziller 1973], p.53
A Reaction
Identifying how best to specify what a proposition is actually 'about' is a very illuminating mode of enquiry. You can't define 'underneath' without invoking a pair of objects to illustrate it. A proposition can still focus on the relation.
Related Idea
Idea 19201 Propositions can be 'about' an entity, but that doesn't make the entity a constituent of it [Merricks]
| 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] |