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Single Idea 21540

[from 'Meinong on Complexes and Assumptions' by Bertrand Russell, in 8. Modes of Existence / A. Relations / 1. Nature of Relations ]

Full Idea

In some sense which it would be very desirable to define, a relational proposition seems to be 'about' its terms, in a way in which it is not about the relation.

Gist of Idea

Relational propositions seem to be 'about' their terms, rather than about the relation

Source

Bertrand Russell (Meinong on Complexes and Assumptions [1904], p.53)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'Essays in Analysis', ed/tr. Lackey,Douglas [George Braziller 1973], p.53


A Reaction

Identifying how best to specify what a proposition is actually 'about' is a very illuminating mode of enquiry. You can't define 'underneath' without invoking a pair of objects to illustrate it. A proposition can still focus on the relation.

Related Idea

Idea 19201 Propositions can be 'about' an entity, but that doesn't make the entity a constituent of it [Merricks]