more from Trenton Merricks

Single Idea 19206

[catalogued under 19. Language / D. Propositions / 1. Propositions]

Full Idea

The proposition expressed by 'Cicero is an orator' represents things as being exactly the same way as does the proposition expressed by 'Tully is an orator'. Hence two sentences express the same proposition. Fregeans about names deny this.

Clarification

Cicero and Tully are the same person

Gist of Idea

'Cicero is an orator' represents the same situation as 'Tully is an orator', so they are one proposition

Source

Trenton Merricks (Propositions [2015], 2.II)

Book Reference

Merricks,Trenton: 'Propositions' [OUP 2015], p.41


A Reaction

Merricks makes the situation in the world fix the contents of the proposition. I don't agree. I would expand the first proposition as 'The person I know as 'Cicero' was an orator', but I might never have heard of 'Tully'.

Related Idea

Idea 9453 Sentences saying the same with the same rigid designators may still express different propositions [Bealer]