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