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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
How to write this sentence
Like much philosophical epistemology, positivism has two exponents, namely logical positivism and critical rationalism.
or
Like much philosophical epistemology, there are two exponents of positivism, namely logical positivism and critical rationalism.
Which one is best?
or
Like much philosophical epistemology, there are two exponents of positivism, namely logical positivism and critical rationalism.
Which one is best?
Top answer
I do not pretend to understand this subject matter very well, but are you sure you mean "exponents"? An "exponent" of something is usually a person. Is it possible that you mean "components"?
- I do not pretend to understand this subject matter very well, but are you sure you mean "exponents"?
- An "exponent" of something is usually a person.
- Is it possible that you mean "components"?
- Or perhaps you mean that there are two types of positivism?
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4 Answers
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I do not pretend to understand this subject matter very well, but are you sure you mean "exponents"? An "exponent" of something is usually a person. Is it possible that you mean "components"? Or perhaps you mean that there are two types of positivism?
00
No. I mean:
X^ab
Where X is positivism and its exponent ^a is logical positivism and ^b is critical rationalism. Think of them as being subsets of positivism.
'Two types' sounds too simple and components does not fit in with the 'logical' theme of the sentence. Exponents is more befitting to the sentence, as it fits in well with the logic and math language.
X^ab
Where X is positivism and its exponent ^a is logical positivism and ^b is critical rationalism. Think of them as being subsets of positivism.
'Two types' sounds too simple and components does not fit in with the 'logical' theme of the sentence. Exponents is more befitting to the sentence, as it fits in well with the logic and math language.
00
I have never heard of the term "exponent" used to refer to a subset. In maths, x^y normally means "x to the power y", i.e. x multiplied by itself y times, the exponent being y. If you are certain that the term is correct in your context then it must be a special technical use that I am not familiar with.
00
In your text, exponents sounds odd to me, too.
But the word subsets is very clear.
Clive
But the word subsets is very clear.
Clive
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