86 NAMES AND PROPOSITIONS. 



than a mere sign of predication; that it also signifies existence. 

 In the proposition, Socrates is just, it may seem to be implied 

 not only that the quality just can be affirmed of Socrates, but 

 moreover that Socrates is, that is to say, exists. This, how- 

 ever, only shows that there is an ambiguity in the word is ; a 

 word which not only performs the function of the copula in 

 affirmations, but has also a meaning of its own, in virtue of 

 which it may itself be made the predicate of a proposition. 

 That the employment of it as a copula does not necessarily 

 include the affirmation of existence, appears from such a pro- 

 position as this, A centaur is a fiction of the poets ; where it 

 cannot possibly be implied that a centaur exists, since the 

 proposition itself expressly asserts that the thing has no real 

 existence. 



Many volumes might be filled with the frivolous specula- 

 tions concerning the nature of Being, (TO ov, ovaia, Ens, Enti- 

 tas, Essentia, and the like) which have arisen from overlook- 

 ing this double meaning of the word to be ; from supposing 

 that when it signifies to exist, and when it signifies to be some 

 specified thing, as to be a man, to be Socrates, to be seen or 

 spoken of, to be a phantom, even to be a nonentity, it must 

 still, at bottom, answer to the same idea ; and that a meaning 

 must be found for it which shall suit all these cases. The fog 

 which rose from this narrow spot diffused itself at an early 

 period over the whole surface of metaphysics. Yet it becomes 

 us not to triumph over the great intellects of Plato and Ari- 

 stotle because we are now able to preserve ourselves from many 

 errors into which they, perhaps inevitably, fell. The fire- 

 teazer of a modern steam-engine produces by his exertions 

 far greater effects than Milo of Crotona could, but he is not 

 therefore a stronger man. The Greeks seldom knew any 

 language but their own. This rendered it far more difficult 

 for them than it is for us, to acquire a readiness in detecting 

 ambiguities. One of the advantages of having accurately 

 studied a plurality of languages, especially of those languages 

 which eminent thinkers have used as the vehicle of their 

 thoughts, is the practical lesson we learn respecting the ambi- 

 guities of words, by finding that the same word in one Ian- 



