One of the many things that has bothered me over the past few years is the constant mocking of Clinton for his asking for the definition of the word 'is'. Most people think it obvious what the word 'is' means, but its just this sort of assumption because it is a word that they use on a daily basis.. in actuality it is one of the most complicated words in the English language (along with the word 'of'). This word is the exact thing that Ludwig Wittgenstein had in mind when he wrote the Tractatus (and in some ways what Russel and Frege had in mind when they wrote their Critiques of language).
In any case, on to the complexities of the word 'is'. (word is used in quotes because I am referring to the word, not the meaning of the word, similar to the claim that 'France has six letters'. Refering to the symbol itself, not the symbolized). There are no less than 4 uses of the basic form of 'be', listed as follows.
existential - 'The Father of Texas is no more' - refers to the existance of something, in this case was in reference to the death (non-existance) of Stephen F. Austin to the Republic of Texas Senate.
identity - The Evening star is the morning star. - This equates to things to one another as synonyms.
predication - The evening star is bright. - This is used to give some account of the nature of something, to further define or enhance your understanding of what something is.
veridical - Not used commonly in English anymore, but extremely common in other languages, especially older ones... ex. 'Parmenedies was an ancient philosopher is.' The final 'is' actually serve as a truth telling function. This sentence is not just claiming that Parmenides was an ancient philosopher, but that it is a FACT that he was in ancient philosopher.
The Veridical is where the problem comes in (outside of the possibility of confusing which of the other three forms of 'is' are being put to use). In common English the veridical in infered in all three other forms of the use of the word is. Stating something as fact is actually a much stronger claim then asserting something about it (again, this distinction is largely lost in common English).
So please, the next time you here someone make a joke about Clinton asking for a definition of the word is, hit them upside the head with a mallet for being stupid.
In any case, on to the complexities of the word 'is'. (word is used in quotes because I am referring to the word, not the meaning of the word, similar to the claim that 'France has six letters'. Refering to the symbol itself, not the symbolized). There are no less than 4 uses of the basic form of 'be', listed as follows.
existential - 'The Father of Texas is no more' - refers to the existance of something, in this case was in reference to the death (non-existance) of Stephen F. Austin to the Republic of Texas Senate.
identity - The Evening star is the morning star. - This equates to things to one another as synonyms.
predication - The evening star is bright. - This is used to give some account of the nature of something, to further define or enhance your understanding of what something is.
veridical - Not used commonly in English anymore, but extremely common in other languages, especially older ones... ex. 'Parmenedies was an ancient philosopher is.' The final 'is' actually serve as a truth telling function. This sentence is not just claiming that Parmenides was an ancient philosopher, but that it is a FACT that he was in ancient philosopher.
The Veridical is where the problem comes in (outside of the possibility of confusing which of the other three forms of 'is' are being put to use). In common English the veridical in infered in all three other forms of the use of the word is. Stating something as fact is actually a much stronger claim then asserting something about it (again, this distinction is largely lost in common English).
So please, the next time you here someone make a joke about Clinton asking for a definition of the word is, hit them upside the head with a mallet for being stupid.