41 lines
1.1 KiB
Markdown
41 lines
1.1 KiB
Markdown
On the subtext of a predicate
|
|
-----------------------------
|
|
|
|
Predicates are not atomic. They do not come single spies, but freighted
|
|
with battalions of inferable subtexts. Suppose Anthony says
|
|
|
|
Brutus killed Caesar in Rome during the ides of March
|
|
|
|
I learn more than just that 'Brutus killed Caesar in Rome during the
|
|
ides of March'. I also learn that
|
|
|
|
- Brutus is a killer
|
|
- Caesar has been killed
|
|
- Rome is a place where killings happen
|
|
- The ides of March are a time to be extra cautious
|
|
|
|
Suppose Drusilla now says
|
|
|
|
E killed Caesar in Rome during the ides of March
|
|
|
|
this casts doubt on Anthony's primary claim, and on the belief that
|
|
Brutus is a killer; but it reinforces the beliefs that
|
|
|
|
- Caesar has been killed
|
|
- Rome is a place where killings happen
|
|
- The ides of March are a time to be extra cautious.
|
|
|
|
If Falco then says
|
|
|
|
No, I heard from Gaius that it happened in April
|
|
|
|
the beliefs that
|
|
|
|
- Caesar has been killed
|
|
- Rome is a place where killings happen
|
|
|
|
are still further strengthened.
|
|
|
|
In proposing a formalism to express predicates, we need to consider how
|
|
it allows this freight to be unpacked.
|