The paradox of ineffability
Saying that x is ineffable seems to be paradoxical - either I cannot say anything about x, not even that it is ineffable - or I can say that it is ineffable, but then I can say something and it is not ineffable. In this article, I discuss Alston’s version of the paradox and a solution proposed by Hi...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
[2017]
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| In: |
International journal of philosophy and theology
Year: 2017, Volume: 78, Issue: 3, Pages: 289-300 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Alston, William P. 1921-2009
/ Hick, John 1922-2012
/ Dionysius, Areopagita, De mystica theologia
/ Unexpressibility
/ God
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| IxTheo Classification: | KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history NBC Doctrine of God VA Philosophy |
| Further subjects: | B
John Hick
B Mysticism B William Alston B Ineffability |
| Summary: | Saying that x is ineffable seems to be paradoxical - either I cannot say anything about x, not even that it is ineffable - or I can say that it is ineffable, but then I can say something and it is not ineffable. In this article, I discuss Alston’s version of the paradox and a solution proposed by Hick which employs the concept of formal and substantial predicates. I reject Hick’s proposal and develop a different account based on some passages from Pseudo-Dionysius’ Mystica Theologia. ‘God is ineffable’ is a metalinguistic statement concerning propositions about God: not all propositions about God are expressible in a human language. |
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| ISSN: | 2169-2327 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: International journal of philosophy and theology
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