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...
| Published in: | International journal of philosophy and theology |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic/Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis
[2017]
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| In: |
International journal of philosophy and theology
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| 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 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (doi) |
| 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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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/21692327.2016.1277155 |