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Single Idea 2518

[from 'Realistic Rationalism' by Jerrold J. Katz, in 19. Language / D. Propositions / 2. Abstract Propositions / a. Propositions as sense ]

Full Idea

Sentences are types, not utterance tokens or mental/neural tokens, and hence sentences are abstract objects (like musical scores).

Gist of Idea

Sentences are abstract types (like musical scores), not individual tokens

Source

Jerrold J. Katz (Realistic Rationalism [2000], Int.xxvi)

Book Reference

Katz,Jerrold J.: 'Realistic Rationalism' [MIT 2000], p.-9


A Reaction

If sentences are abstract types, then two verbally indistinguishable sentences are the same sentence. But if I say 'I am happy', that isn't the same as you saying it.