https://jhaponline.org/jhap/issue/feed 2022-09-08T03:55:30+00:00 Audrey Yap ayap@uvic.ca Open Journal Systems <p>JHAP aims to promote research in and discussion of the history of analytical philosophy. <a href="/jhap/about">Read more ...</a></p> https://jhaponline.org/jhap/article/view/5021 2022-06-27T00:46:07+00:00 Wouter Adriaan Cohen wouter_chn@hotmail.com

<p>Bertrand Russell’s <em>Principles of Mathematics</em> (1903) gives rise to several interpretational challenges, especially concerning the theory of denoting concepts. Only relatively recently, for instance, has it been properly realised that Russell accepted denoting concepts that do not denote anything. Such empty denoting concepts are sometimes thought to enable Russell, whether he was aware of it or not, to avoid commitment to some of the problematic non-existent entities he seems to accept, such as the Homeric gods and chimeras. In this paper, I argue first that the theory of denoting concepts in <em>Principles of </em><em>Mathematics</em> has been generally misunderstood. According to the interpretation I defend, if a denoting concept shifts what a proposition is about, then the aggregate of the denoted terms will also be a constituent of the proposition. I then show that Russell therefore could not have avoided commitment to the Homeric gods and chimeras by appealing to empty denoting concepts. Finally, I develop what I think is the best understanding of the ontology of <em>Principles of </em><em>Mathematics</em> by interpreting some difficult passages.</p>

2022-09-08T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2022 Wouter Cohen