Bertrand Russell

Abstract

The first logistic philosopher to think in terms of the semantical relation of representation was Bertrand Russell, and we shall therefore begin our survey by finding out how he interprets predicate signs. The preceding chapters have shown how he persistently analyses sentences and states of affairs into their elements. He introduced the designation ‘logical atomism’ to characterize the view underlying this kind of analysis. As we shall see, he considers the assumption of universals as logical atoms to be unavoidable. He regards predicate signs like individual names, as genuine names of determinate entities, so that on his view two equal predicate signs always designate identically the same entity.