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Single Idea 7758

[from 'On Denoting' by Bertrand Russell, in 5. Theory of Logic / E. Structures of Logic / 1. Logical Form ]

Full Idea

On Russell's view 'Elizabeth II = Queen of England' is only superficially an identity-statement; really it is a predication, and attributes a complex relational property to Elizabeth.

Gist of Idea

'Elizabeth = Queen of England' is really a predication, not an identity-statement

Source

report of Bertrand Russell (On Denoting [1905]) by William Lycan - Philosophy of Language Ch.1

Book Reference

Lycan,William G.: 'Philosophy of Language' [Routledge 2000], p.20


A Reaction

The original example is 'Scott = author of Waverley'. Why can't such statements be identities, in which the reference of one half of the identity is not yet known? 'The murderer is violent' and 'Smith is violent' suggests 'Smith is the murderer'.