more from Michael Dummett

Single Idea 8173

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / D. Assumptions for Logic / 1. Bivalence]

Full Idea

Two features of natural languages cause them to violate bivalence: singular terms (or proper names) which have a sense but fail to denote an object ('the centre of the universe'); and predicates which are not well defined for every object.

Clarification

Bivalence says sentences can only be 'true' or 'false'

Gist of Idea

Language can violate bivalence because of non-referring terms or ill-defined predicates

Source

Michael Dummett (Thought and Reality [1997], 4)

Book Reference

Dummett,Michael: 'Thought and Reality (Gifford Lectures)' [OUP 2006], p.47


A Reaction

If we switch from sentences to propositions these problems might be avoided. If there is no reference, or a vague predicate, then there is (maybe) just no proposition being expressed which could be evaluated for truth.