more from Richard Cartwright

Single Idea 13946

[catalogued under 19. Language / D. Propositions / 4. Mental Propositions]

Full Idea

In order to assert that p it is not necessary to utter exactly those words. ...Clearly, also, in order to assert that p, it is not sufficient to utter the words that were actually uttered.

Gist of Idea

To assert that p, it is neither necessary nor sufficient to utter some particular words

Source

Richard Cartwright (Propositions [1962], 07)

Book Reference

Cartwright,Richard: 'Philosophical Essays' [MIT 1987], p.38


A Reaction

I take the first point to be completely obvious (you can assert one thing with various wordings), and the second seems right after a little thought (the words could be vague, ambiguous, inaccurate, contextual)