The paradox of ineffability

International Journal of Philosophy and Theology 78 (3):1-12 (2017)
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Abstract

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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Sebastian Gäb
Ludwig Maximilians Universität, München

References found in this work

The Modularity of Mind.Robert Cummins & Jerry Fodor - 1983 - Philosophical Review 94 (1):101.
The Varieties of Religious Experience.William James - 1903 - Philosophical Review 12 (1):62-67.
Perception and conceptual content.Alex Byrne - 2013 - In Matthias Steup & John Turri (eds.), Contemporary Debates in Epistemology. Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Blackwell. pp. 231--250.
Mysticism and Philosophy.W. E. Kennick - 1962 - Philosophical Review 71 (3):387.
Does God Have a Nature?William E. Mann - 1982 - Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 42 (4):625-630.

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