Grice writes: "Philosophers often say that context is very important. Let us take this remark seriously. Surely, if we do, we shall want to consider this remark ["context is very important", or as hyperbolically McEvoy puts it re: "My name is Mickey Mouse" -- context is everything] not merely in its relation to this or that problem [e.g Mickey Mouse], i.e. in context, but also in itself, i.e. out of context. If we are to take THIS seriously, we must be systematic, that is, thorough and orderly. If we are to be orderly we must start with what is relatively simple. HERE, though not of course everywhere, to be simple is to be as abstract as possible; by this I mean merely that we want, to begin with, to have as few cards on the table as we can. Orderliness will then consist in seeing first what we can do with the cards we have; and when we think that we have exhausted the investigation, we put another card on the table, and see what that enables us to do." In this context: A: What is your name? B: My name is Mickey Mouse. presents a problem in that the question may be facetious (e.g. as made by a 'cop'). Note that in Cole Porter, "You're the top", You're Mickey Mouse works differently from your common-or-garden metaphor (a categorial mistake -- alla "You are the cream in my coffee". It's still different with "I'd like a cup of mud" -- (a line in a crowded theatre). ---- At words poetic, I'm so pathetic That I always have found it best, Instead of getting 'em off my chest, To let 'em rest unexpressed, I hate parading my serenading As I'll probably miss a bar, But if this ditty is not so pretty At least it'll tell you How great you are. You're the top! You're the Coliseum. You're the top! You're the Louver Museum. You're a melody from a symphony by Strauss You're a Bendel bonnet, A Shakespeare's sonnet, You're Mickey Mouse. --- You're the cream in my coffee You're the salt in my stew You'll always be my necessity I'd be lost without you You're the starch in my collar You're the lace in my shoe You'll always be my necessity I'd be lost without you Most men tell love tales And each phrase dovetails You've heard each known way This way is my own way You're the sail of my love boat You're the captain and crew You'll always be my necessity I'd be lost without you You're the sail of my love boat You're the captain and crew You'll always be my necessity Like a restaurant with a recipe You're the lace in my shoe I'd be lost without you Cheers, Speranza Ref: Grice, "The General Theory of Context" ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html