It has been suggested that this article be merged into Proposition. (Discuss) Proposed since December 2024. |
In logic and semantics, the term statement is variously understood to mean either:
- a meaningful declarative sentence that is true or false,[citation needed] or
- a proposition. Which is the assertion that is made by (i.e., the meaning of) a true or false declarative sentence.
In the latter case, a (declarative) sentence is just one way of expressing an underlying statement. A statement is what a sentence means, it is the notion or idea that a sentence expresses, i.e., what it represents. For example, it could be said that "2 + 2 = 4" and "two plus two equals four" are two different sentences expressing the same statement. As another example, consider that the Arabic numeral '7', the Roman numeral 'VII', and the English word 'seven' are all distinct from the underlying number.
Overview
Philosopher of language Peter Strawson (1919–2006) advocated the use of the term "statement" in sense (2) in preference to proposition. Strawson used the term "statement" to make the point that two declarative sentences can make the same statement if they say the same thing in different ways. Thus, in the usage advocated by Strawson, "All men are mortal." and "Every man is mortal." are two different sentences that make the same statement.
In either case, a statement is viewed as a truth bearer.
Examples of sentences that are (or make) true statements:
- "Socrates is a man."
- "A triangle has three sides."
- "Madrid is the capital of Spain."
Examples of sentences that are also statements, even though they aren't true:
- "All toasters are made of solid gold."
- "Two plus two equals five."
Examples of sentences that are not (or do not make) statements:
- "Who are you?"
- "Run!"
- "Greenness perambulates."
- "I had one grunch but the eggplant over there."
- "King Charles III is wise."
- "Broccoli tastes good."
- "Pegasus exists."
The first two examples are not declarative sentences and therefore are not (or do not make) statements. The third and fourth are declarative sentences but, lacking meaning, are neither true nor false and therefore are not (or do not make) statements. The fifth and sixth examples are meaningful declarative sentences, but are not statements but rather matters of opinion or taste. Whether or not the sentence "Pegasus exists." is a statement is a subject of debate among philosophers. Bertrand Russell held that it is a (false) statement.[citation needed] Strawson held it is not a statement at all.[citation needed]
As an abstract entity
In some treatments, "statement" is introduced in order to distinguish a sentence from its informational content. A statement is regarded as the information content of an information-bearing sentence. Thus, a sentence is related to the statement it bears like a numeral to the number it refers to. Statements are abstract logical entities, while sentences are grammatical entities.
See also
- Belief
- Claim (logic)
- Concept
- Sentence (mathematical logic)
- Truthbearer - statements
References
- Millican (1994) "Central to the [Strawsonian tradition] is the distinction between a sentence and what is said by a sentence - Strawson initially called the latter a use of a sentence, and sometimes a proposition, but his most frequent term for what is said, which Wolfram consistently adopts, is the statement expressed."
- Rouse (2005) "A statement is defined as that which is expressible by a sentence, and is either true or false... A statement is a more abstract entity than even a sentence type. It is not identical with the sentence used to express it... [That is,] different sentences can be used to express the same statement."
- Rouse 2005.
- Ruzsa 2000, p. 16.
Works cited
- Rouse, David L. (2005). "Sentences, Statements and Arguments" (PDF). A Practical Introduction to Formal Logic.
- Ruzsa, Imre (2000), Bevezetés a modern logikába, Osiris tankönyvek, Budapest: Osiris, ISBN 963-379-978-3
- Millican, Peter (1994). "Statements and Modality: Strawson, Quine and Wolfram" (PDF).
Further reading
- A. G. Hamilton, Logic for Mathematicians, Cambridge University Press, 1980, ISBN 0-521-29291-3.
- Xenakis, Jason (1956). "Sentence and Statement: Prof. Quine on Mr. Strawson". Analysis. 16 (4): 91–4. doi:10.2307/3326478. ISSN 1467-8284. JSTOR 3326478.
- P. F. Strawson, "On Referring" in Mind, Vol 59 No 235 (Jul 1950)
It has been suggested that this article be merged into Proposition Discuss Proposed since December 2024 In logic and semantics the term statement is variously understood to mean either a meaningful declarative sentence that is true or false citation needed or a proposition Which is the assertion that is made by i e the meaning of a true or false declarative sentence In the latter case a declarative sentence is just one way of expressing an underlying statement A statement is what a sentence means it is the notion or idea that a sentence expresses i e what it represents For example it could be said that 2 2 4 and two plus two equals four are two different sentences expressing the same statement As another example consider that the Arabic numeral 7 the Roman numeral VII and the English word seven are all distinct from the underlying number OverviewPhilosopher of language Peter Strawson 1919 2006 advocated the use of the term statement in sense 2 in preference to proposition Strawson used the term statement to make the point that two declarative sentences can make the same statement if they say the same thing in different ways Thus in the usage advocated by Strawson All men are mortal and Every man is mortal are two different sentences that make the same statement In either case a statement is viewed as a truth bearer Examples of sentences that are or make true statements Socrates is a man A triangle has three sides Madrid is the capital of Spain Examples of sentences that are also statements even though they aren t true All toasters are made of solid gold Two plus two equals five Examples of sentences that are not or do not make statements Who are you Run Greenness perambulates I had one grunch but the eggplant over there King Charles III is wise Broccoli tastes good Pegasus exists The first two examples are not declarative sentences and therefore are not or do not make statements The third and fourth are declarative sentences but lacking meaning are neither true nor false and therefore are not or do not make statements The fifth and sixth examples are meaningful declarative sentences but are not statements but rather matters of opinion or taste Whether or not the sentence Pegasus exists is a statement is a subject of debate among philosophers Bertrand Russell held that it is a false statement citation needed Strawson held it is not a statement at all citation needed As an abstract entityIn some treatments statement is introduced in order to distinguish a sentence from its informational content A statement is regarded as the information content of an information bearing sentence Thus a sentence is related to the statement it bears like a numeral to the number it refers to Statements are abstract logical entities while sentences are grammatical entities See alsoBelief Claim logic Concept Sentence mathematical logic Truthbearer statementsReferencesMillican 1994 Central to the Strawsonian tradition is the distinction between a sentence and what is said by a sentence Strawson initially called the latter a use of a sentence and sometimes a proposition but his most frequent term for what is said which Wolfram consistently adopts is the statement expressed Rouse 2005 A statement is defined as that which is expressible by a sentence and is either true or false A statement is a more abstract entity than even a sentence type It is not identical with the sentence used to express it That is different sentences can be used to express the same statement Rouse 2005 Ruzsa 2000 p 16 Works cited Rouse David L 2005 Sentences Statements and Arguments PDF A Practical Introduction to Formal Logic Ruzsa Imre 2000 Bevezetes a modern logikaba Osiris tankonyvek Budapest Osiris ISBN 963 379 978 3 Millican Peter 1994 Statements and Modality Strawson Quine and Wolfram PDF Further readingA G Hamilton Logic for Mathematicians Cambridge University Press 1980 ISBN 0 521 29291 3 Xenakis Jason 1956 Sentence and Statement Prof Quine on Mr Strawson Analysis 16 4 91 4 doi 10 2307 3326478 ISSN 1467 8284 JSTOR 3326478 P F Strawson On Referring in Mind Vol 59 No 235 Jul 1950
