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Single Idea 13978

[from 'Are there propositions?' by Gilbert Ryle, in 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 1. Meaning ]

Full Idea

It is argued by Husserl and (virtually) by Meinong that only if there are such entities as objective Meanings - and propositions are just a species of Meaning - is there anything for Logic to be about.

Gist of Idea

Husserl and Meinong wanted objective Meanings and Propositions, as subject-matter for Logic

Source

Gilbert Ryle (Are there propositions? [1930], IV)

Book Reference

Ryle,Gilbert: 'Collected Essays 2 1929-1968' [Routledge 2009], p.21


A Reaction

It is presumably this proposal which led to the scepticism about meanings in Wittgenstein, Quine and Kripke. The modern view, which strikes me as right, is that logic is about inference, and so doesn't need a subject-matter.