In one sense 'there are' both universals and material objects, in another sense there is no such thing as either: statements about each can usually be analysed, but not always, nor always without remainder. -- Austin, Papers 43n.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Statements about existence depend on context and analysis.
- In plain terms
- Whether things exist depends on how you look.
- What can you take from it?
- Existence is context-dependent.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does language create reality?
- Is existence absolute?
Another view
Sometimes things exist regardless of analysis.
More from J. L. Austin
Why should it not be the whole function of a word to denote many things? --Austin, Papers 38.
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