In mathematics, the word “is” seems justified. Two plus two IS four and even God himself can’t change that fact; “Two plus two is four” seems to live in its own pristine, immutable world, entirely beyond the reach of any outside power to change. — Art48
Even in Math, one cannot state this in a general way. Two centimeters plus two millimeters do not equal four. (Four what?) They are just equal to "two centimeters and two millimeters". You can only add homogeneous things. Even if both centimeters and millimeters are units of distance, they are heterogeneous. In Math, they are called "incommensurable" (being of different kinds, degrees or dimensions).“Two plus two is four” — Art48
These refer to attributes you assign to persons and things. They are your opinion; part of your reality. They are true for you. How certain you are about them does not matter.my children ARE wonderful; democracy IS the best form of government ... — Art48
The fundamental problem with “is” seems to be the person using that word seemingly speaks with a god-like authority — Art48
The fundamental problem with “is” seems to be the person using that word seemingly speaks with a god-like authority — Art48
The fundamental problem with “is” seems to be the person using that word seemingly speaks with a god-like authority
— Art48
Not to any competent language user. — SophistiCat
The fundamental problem with “is” seems to be the person using that word seemingly speaks with a god-like authority
— Art48
Not to any competent language user. — SophistiCat
3+1 "is" 4 but 3+1 "is not" 2+2 — Fooloso4
Two centimeters plus two millimeters do not equal four. (Four what?) They are just equal to "two centimeters and two millimeters". — Alkis Piskas
I was referring to the general statement “Two plus two is four”, which is presented as if it is a law of the Universe (Re: "seems to live in its own pristine, immutable world, entirely beyond the reach of any outside power to change"). "Two and two" what? If the context of numbers were mentioned or if the statement were "2 plus 2 equals 4", then there wouldn't be a doubt. But it wasn't. Hence my example with centimeters and millimeters just to show why not any "two" can fit to this equation.Why introduce this non sequitur? "2 + 2" has nothing to do with "two centimeters and two millimeters" — Real Gone Cat
E-Prime — Art48
Do you have some special mathematical definition of "is"? — Real Gone Cat
“Two plus two is four” — Art48
The comment seems irrelevant to this thread.3+1 "is" 4 but 3+1 "is not" 2+2 — Fooloso4
I disapprove of statements that use "is" to purportedly make a statement about objective reality that hides the fact that the statement better qualifies as someone's experience of objective reality.So, which of all of the above meanings of "is" are you against? — Alkis Piskas
There is some truth to your statement. (Notice how "is" makes that sentence about objective reality. I should have said "I partially agree with your statement.) So, if I say "This ice cream tastes good" most people know I mean "This ice cream tastes good to me." But someone might mistake "The floor is hard" as a statement about objective reality. See my next comment.Not to any competent language user. — SophistiCat
"The floor is hard" is a statement about objective reality. Compared to a diamond, the floor is soft. Compared to neutron stars the floor isn't much more than a wisp of smoke.“If I say "the floor is hard, . . ." — Joshs
Agree. But being aware of how "is" tends to remove the speaker from the statement so the statement appears to be objective reality seems reasonable.Getting rid of it altogether is surely an overreaction. — Banno
So you've changed the meaning of "is" within a single sentence. — Real Gone Cat
The problem you are talking about seems not specifically related to the verb "to be" but to any verb and any statement that is not formulated as uncertain. — Babbeus
The comment seems irrelevant to this thread. — Art48
Force IS equal to mass times acceleration. — Art48
you could say: force equals mass times acceleration.
Or are you objecting to this as well because it seems to confer godlike authority? — Fooloso4
So, if I say "This ice cream tastes good" most people know I mean "This ice cream tastes good to me." But someone might mistake "The floor is hard" as a statement about objective reality. See my next comment.
“If I say "the floor is hard, . . ."
— Joshs
"The floor is hard" is a statement about objective reality. Compared to a diamond, the floor is soft. Compared to neutron stars the floor isn't much more than a wisp of smoke. — Art48
You are aware that 2+2 = 3+1 ? — Real Gone Cat
You want to find mysticism here. — Real Gone Cat
3+1 "is" 4 but 3+1 "is not" 2+2 — Fooloso4
You are right about rejecting objective reality, because it doesn't exist.I disapprove of statements that use "is" to purportedly make a statement about objective reality that hides the fact that the statement better qualifies as someone's experience of objective reality. — Art48
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