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Full Idea
Whoever is afraid of symbols can hardly hope to acquire exact ideas where it is necessary to distinguish 1) the variable in itself as opposed to its value, 2) any value of the variable, 3) all values, 4) some value.
Gist of Idea
We can't sharply distinguish variables, domains and values, if symbols frighten us
Source
Bertrand Russell (Review: Meinong 'Untersuchungen zur..' [1905], p.84)
Book Ref
Russell,Bertrand: 'Essays in Analysis', ed/tr. Lackey,Douglas [George Braziller 1973], p.84
A Reaction
Not the best example, perhaps, of the need for precision, but a nice illustration of the new attitude Russell brought into philosophy.
| 21531 | Common sense agrees with Meinong (rather than Russell) that 'Pegasus is a flying horse' is true [Lackey on Russell] |
| 21545 | I prefer to deny round squares, and deal with the difficulties by the theory of denoting [Russell] |
| 21546 | We can't sharply distinguish variables, domains and values, if symbols frighten us [Russell] |