I point to the subject-predicate of ''Jesus'' and ''is Jew''. One of the statements is true and the other false. — TheMadFool
Isn't language symbolic in that we words and everything we can do with it is the act of a symbol or string of symbols pointing or referring to something else? — TheMadFool
Subject-predicate statements point to both what is the subject and the predicate and the relationship between them. Am I wrong? — TheMadFool
Also, how does one judge truth? — TheMadFool
First meaning of a propsition must be be understood and only then can we evaluate truth. — TheMadFool
To understand meaning the process of referring must be completed right? — TheMadFool
I think it means the same thing as 'about', but only in the context of language.I think we're not on the same page. What exactly do you mean by "refer"? — TheMadFool
Like Banno said, not everything is a name. I would add that not every sentence is a proposition.Isn't language symbolic in that we words and everything we can do with it is the act of a symbol or string of symbols pointing or referring to something else? — TheMadFool
Only the subject part of the sentence refers. You can't disconnect the predicate from a sentence and say that it refers to anything.Subject-predicate statements point to both what is the subject and the predicate and the relationship between them. Am I wrong? — TheMadFool
Only if you conflate meaning and reference.To understand meaning the process of referring must be completed right? — TheMadFool
Only if you conflate meaning and reference. — Purple Pond
Always the risk of being out of step when jumping in.How can mere words be about anything? — Purple Pond
Yes.Can we understand a sentence without the referring in a sentence being completed? — TheMadFool
Yes.
I don't think this conversation is going anywhere. — Purple Pond
Statements like: It is raining. It's my birthday. It's 20 miles to New Jersey. These are all possibly true statements without a reference. — Purple Pond
How do words refer? — Purple Pond
Statements like: It is raining. It's my birthday. It's 20 miles to New Jersey. These are all possibly true statements without a reference. — Purple Pond
Can we judge the truth of a sentence without understanding it?
No.
Can we understand a sentence without the referring in a sentence being completed?
No.
Referring is independent of truth. Truth depends on referring being complete. — TheMadFool
There's no reference for the subject "it" in the sentence.Not sure what you mean by "without a reference"... — creativesoul
I don't think 'What's happening at this time' is a subject that you can refer to because a subject is one word."It's raining" refers to what is happening at the time. It's talking about actual events. It's what we say when water is falling from the sky in a particular form. — creativesoul
I think you are correct here.''Harry Potter has a glass eye'' isn't a true statement but it's about/refers to Harry Potter. So, reference/aboutness can occur without truth. — TheMadFool
'It's raining' has no reference, but it's perfectly understandable.An example to help me... — TheMadFool
It's raining' has no reference, but it's perfectly understandable. — Purple Pond
Why not? I already gave an example of and understandable sentence where no reference is completed. "it's raining". What does the "it" refer to? Nothing.Can we understand a sentence without the referring in a sentence being completed?
No. — TheMadFool
Why not? I already gave an example of and understandable sentence where no reference is completed. "it's raining". What does the "it" refer to? Nothing. — Purple Pond
And what does 'is raining' mean?Well, this is a matter of grammar. ''Is raining'' is grammatically deficient, so we add ''it'' for syntactical reasons. — TheMadFool
Can you name a context that it is so obvious?The point is that the sentence refers to something in a context so obvious that it's not worth mentioning. — TheMadFool
Funny thing is the reference is still missing even when you add those words.If one were to be specific and clear the sentence would be ''it's raining now/today/in Paris/etc.'' — TheMadFool
'It's raining' has no reference, but it's perfectly understandable — Purple Pond
I don't think 'What's happening at this time' is a subject that you can refer to because a subject is one word. — Purple Pond
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