@fast,
fast;104143 wrote:P1. Some propositions are true.
P2. Some statements are true.
P3. Some sentences are true.
I believe most of us would agree that some propositions are true, and hopefully many of us would agree that some statements are true, but how many among us agree that some sentences are true? My position is that some sentences are true. How about you?
I agree with (1).
What do you mean by "statement"? The same as "proposition"? In that case I agree.
I disagree with (3). But I can see that it has some pragmatic value to say that sentences are also sometimes true and false
in addition to propositions. The pragmatic value is that it makes it easier to talk about certain things without having to use complex phrases like "the proposition expressed by (the sentence) is true (or false)".
This is how I see understand that view:[INDENT]A sentence is true iff it expresses exactly one proposition and that proposition is true.
A sentence is false iff it expresses exactly one proposition and that proposition is false.
[/INDENT]Sentences are not the sole bearers of truth/falsity. They get their truth/falsity from propositions.
I deny that sentences are true/false too because of the principle of parsimony.
---------- Post added 11-18-2009 at 12:23 AM ----------
kennethamy;104145 wrote:Quine held that sentences were true. But according to some views, the same sentence may express two different propositions, one true, and one false. Then there is P.F. Strawson, who held that sentence express statements. The difference between statements and propositions is obscure (at least to me).
Sentences and propositionsAbout "statement"
Some people seem to use "statement" and "proposition" synonymously. I use "statement" synonymously with "sentence" not with "proposition".
---------- Post added 11-18-2009 at 12:27 AM ----------
Zetherin;104147 wrote:I know your threads may be directed exclusively to kennethamy and Emily, who, for the most part, understand the distinctions and formalizations in what you write, but for the rest of us (or just me!):
Can you detail the differences between a "sentence", "statement", and "proposition", please?
Se my earlier post for "statement".
"Sentence"
A sentence is (
Wiki):[INDENT]In
linguistics, a
sentence is an
expression in
natural language-a
grammatical and
lexical unit consisting of one or more
words, representing distinct and differentiated
concepts, and combined to form a meaningful
statement,
question,
request or
command.
[1]
[/INDENT]
"Proposition"
A proposition is what is expressed by some sentences (descriptive, non-category error involving and possibly other conditions too). A proposition is, given proposition theory, what is true or false. Since it is not sentences that are true or false, it has to be something else: propositions. I usually quote
philosophypages.com:
[INDENT]What is
conveyed by a declarative sentence used to make a statement or assertion. Each proposition is either true or false, though in a particular instance we may not know which it is. [/INDENT]