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Single Idea 9137

[from 'Vagueness and Contradiction' by Roy Sorensen, in 5. Theory of Logic / L. Paradox / 6. Paradoxes in Language / a. The Liar paradox ]

Full Idea

The old objection to the ban on self-reference is that it is too broad; it bans innocent sentences such as 'This very sentence is in English'.

Gist of Idea

Banning self-reference would outlaw 'This very sentence is in English'

Source

Roy Sorensen (Vagueness and Contradiction [2001], 11.1)

Book Reference

Sorensen,Roy: 'Vagueness and Contradiction' [OUP 2004], p.168


A Reaction

Tricky. What is the sigificant difference between 'this sentence is in English' and 'this sentence is a lie'? The first concerns context and is partly metalinguistic. The second concerns semantics and truth. Concept and content..