Re: Weird language idea
| From: | John Cowan <jcowan@...> |
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| Date: | Monday, July 7, 2003, 20:00 |
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Andreas Johansson scripsit:
> Not that I'm sure what it means to exist bluely, but I can think situations
> where a distinction would be handy. F'rinstance, someone that believes in the
> spiritual beneficacy of giving alms, but does not want to be in need of them
> him/herself, might reject the assertion "poverty is desirable", but agree
> that "poverty exists desirably", ie that "the existence of poverty is
> desirable".
I think that "poverty" is really being used polysemously there quite
independent of the verb. In your "poverty is desirable", "poverty"
is a nominalization of "I am poor", whereas in your "poverty exists
desirably", it is a nominalization of "someone is poor".
--
Knowledge studies others / Wisdom is self-known; John Cowan
Muscle masters brothers / Self-mastery is bone; jcowan@reutershealth.com
Content need never borrow / Ambition wanders blind; www.ccil.org/~cowan
Vitality cleaves to the marrow / Leaving death behind. --Tao 33 (Bynner)
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