Zilch

• Autores: Alex Oliver, Timothy Smiley
• Localización: Analysis, ISSN-e 1467-8284, Vol. 73, Nº. 4, 2013, págs. 601-613
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • We all learn about the mistake of treating �nothing� as if it were a term standing for something; but is it a mistake to treat it as an empty term, denoting nothing? We argue not, and we introduce �zilch�, defined as �the non-self-identical thing�, as a term which is empty as a matter of logical necessity. We contrast its behaviour with that of the quantifier �nothing�, and illustrate its uses. We use the same idea to vindicate Locke�s, Descartes� and Hume�s handling of �nothing�, and we show how Heidegger�s �das Nichts nichtet� comes out as logically true.