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The Tenseless Copula in Temporal Predication

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Author

Summary, in English

In this paper I explore how the tenseless copula is to be interpreted in sentences of the form “a is F at t”, where “a” denotes a persisting, changeable object, “F” stands for a prima facie intrinsic property and “t” for a B-time. I argue that the interpretation of the copula depends on the logical role assigned to the time clause. Having rejected the idea that the time clause is to be treated as a sentence operator, I argue: (1) that if “at t” is thought of as being associated with “a” or “F”, then the tenseless copula is most plausibly read as an “is” simpliciter; and (2) that if “at t” is treated as being associated with the copula, then the tenseless copula is most plausibly understood as expressing a disjunction of tensed copulas. I end the paper by explaining the importance of the issue. I indicate the ramifications interpretation of the tenseless copula has for the so-called problem of temporary intrinsics.

Publishing year

2010

Language

English

Pages

267-280

Publication/Series

Erkenntnis

Volume

72

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Philosophy

Keywords

  • Temporal Predication
  • Time
  • adverbialism
  • the problem of temporary intrinsics
  • endurance
  • tenseless verbs

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1572-8420