Re: Meaning (was Re: virus: New Virus Page)

Eva-Lise Carlstrom (eva-lise@efn.org)
Thu, 26 Feb 1998 10:21:41 -0800 (PST)


On Wed, 25 Feb 1998, David McFadzean wrote:

> To go into a bit more detail I think there are three types of meaning,
> all related to cause and effect. If X means Y then one of three situations
> is true:
> 1) X caused Y
> 2) X was intended to cause Y
> 3) X caused knowledge of Y
>
> The first situation applies to your example with the holocaust, though
> the true meaning of the Holocaust is the sum total of effects, not just
> the formation of Israel.
>
> The second situation is illustrated by "I didn't mean to hurt you" which
> translates to "I didn't intend to cause your hurt".
>
> The third (recently added) type of meaning is the kind in "a flag flown
> at half mast means that someone important has died". Obviously (I hope)
> the flag doesn't cause or intend to cause the death of the VIP, its
> actual and intended effect is the knowledge the of death.
>
> Are there any examples of the usage of "meaning" that doesn't fit into
> one of these categories?

4.) X was intended to cause knowledge of Y.

--Eva