Self-Assessment Questions and Possible Answers

1. Explain the differences between analytic and synthetic proposition.

Ans: Broadly there are three differences noticed between analytic and synthetic propositions. These are;

1. A synthetic proposition is a contingent truth whereas an analytic proposition is necessarily true.
2. A synthetic proposition is an a posteriori truth whereas an analytic proposition is true a priorily.
3. A synthetic proposition is informative whereas an analytic proposition is uninformative.
2. Briefly explain Frege's conceptions on the expression 'identity'.

Ans: Considering the identity relation between two objects, Frege highlighted three different issues. These are:

1. One and the same object may refer to two things. (For example, Venus is a planet refers to both morning star and evening star.)
2. Two objects may refer to one thing as A. (For example, morning star and evening star refer to the same object called Venus.)
3. Two objects may refer to two things: A and B respectively.