I want to parse like Superman (was Re: Identity)

[John Cowan]

Miles Sabin scripsit:

> As far as Scott and the author of Waverly are concerned, 
> tho', you're dead wrong. We can meaningfully ask,
> 
>   Is Scott the author of Waverly?
> 
> and we can also meaningfully ask,
> 
>   Does "Scott" denote (in English) the same 
>   person denoted (in English) by "the author of 
>   Waverly"?
> 
> These are _different_ questions.

Perhaps they are.  But I believe that in every case that does not
involve non-denoting names (like "Pegasus" or "Woldemar John Cowan"),
the corresponding questions have the same answers.

> The first is about 
> Scott (and would also be about the author of Waverly if 
> that were a different person). The second is primarily 
> about the use of names in English. It's a classic 
> use/mention, de dicto/de re thing.

The de dicto/de re distinction is useful when it *distinguishes*
something.  In these straight factual questions, I believe that
no distinction is being made.

-- 
John Cowan					cowan at ccil.org
		e'osai ko sarji la lojban.

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