| Incomplete symbols: This is an expression by B. Russell for phrases that cannot stand alone to be meaningful. (B. Russell, “On Denoting, in Mind”, New Series, Vol. 14, No. 56. (Oct. 1905), pp. 479-493.) For example, descriptions such as “the fattest man”. In “Principia Mathematica” Russell, however, distinguishes names as complete symbols from descriptions as incomplete symbols. What is crucial here is that the context or the use of the expression must contribute to the definition. See also subsententials, compositionality, Frege-Principle, names, descriptions._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. |
