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Single Idea 21561

[from 'Substitutional Classes and Relations' by Bertrand Russell, in 2. Reason / F. Fallacies / 8. Category Mistake / a. Category mistakes ]

Full Idea

'The number one is bald' or 'the number one is fond of cream cheese' are, I maintain, not merely silly remarks, but totally devoid of meaning.

Gist of Idea

'The number one is bald' or 'the number one is fond of cream cheese' are meaningless

Source

Bertrand Russell (Substitutional Classes and Relations [1906], p.166)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'Essays in Analysis', ed/tr. Lackey,Douglas [George Braziller 1973], p.166


A Reaction

He connects this to paradoxes in set theory, such as the assertion that 'the class of human beings is a human being' (which is the fallacy of composition).

Related Idea

Idea 21547 On Meinong's principles 'the existent round square' has to exist [Russell]