12,080
edits
Changes
→Excerpt 2. Peirce (CP 2.315)
{| align="center" width="90%"
{| align="center" width="90%"
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |
<p>But take an “analytical”, ''i.e.'', an explicative proposition; and to begin with, take the formula “A is A”. If this be intended to state anything about real things, it is quite unintelligible. It must be understood to mean something about symbols; no doubt, that the substantive verb “is“ expresses one of those relations that everything bears to itself, like “loves whatever may be loved by”.</p>
<p>But take an “analytical”, ''i.e.'', an explicative proposition; and to begin with, take the formula “A is A”. If this be intended to state anything about real things, it is quite unintelligible. It must be understood to mean something about symbols; no doubt, that the substantive verb “is“ expresses one of those relations that everything bears to itself, like “loves whatever may be loved by”. So understood, it conveys information about a symbol. A symbol is not an individual, it is true. But any information about a symbol is information about replica of it; and a replica is strictly an individual. What information, then, does the proposition “A is A” furnish concerning this replica?</p>
<p align="right">C.S. Peirce, “Syllabus” (''c.'' 1902).<br>
<p align="right">C.S. Peirce, “Syllabus” (''c.'' 1902).<br>