Introducing Boris

[Eddie (Edward Robinson)]

@AlanFox

Sorry, I did miss it. I can scroll back but a link would be helpful.

I know how to use the arrow to get back to the posts, but I’m not sure how accurate the numbering system is – it seems to vary by one number, depending on where I place my cursor. So I will simply reproduce the two relevant posts, that capture the last state of our discussion.

Here is the first post you should look at:

@Eddie

To avoid misunderstanding, I would like to rewrite this sentence from my immediately preceding post:

@Eddie

So the very form of the question implies that Socrates existed, and that the only doubt is over whether Plato has correctly conveyed what Socrates was like.

as:

@Eddie

So the very form of the question implies that the questioner believes that Socrates existed, and that the questioner’s only doubt is over whether Plato has correctly conveyed what Socrates was like.

I have added words which should prevent any possible misunderstanding. I think that the context of the previous discussion makes such fine-tuning of the sentence unnecessary, but just in case someone here reads my original sentence with mechanical literalness, rather than in context, the added words should take care of that problem.

And here is the second post you should look at:

@Eddie

@AlanFox

Nope. Discussing the attributes, motivations, etc. of a character in a novel doesn’t make them real.

Obviously. But you’re still not hearing what I’m saying. You think I’m trying to prove that a historical Jesus existed, but I’m not trying to do that. You’re not paying attention to the exact words I’m using, and are reading into my words a claim that I’m not making.

Let me try a popular culture example, to see if I can shake you free of the misunderstanding you’ve introduced to the discussion. All fans of classic film know The Adventures of Robin Hood, starring Errol Flynn, from 1938. Now, suppose someone asked you: “Was the portrayal of Richard the Lionheart in the film accurate?”, what would you interpret that question to mean? What is the word “accurate” to be related to, in that question? Accurate in relation to what ?

Let me know your answer, and then we’ll see if we have cleared up the confusion and reached agreement on at least one subsidiary point.