The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

proves that "is like" is not sufficient as the meaning of "is," but that he
must make it mean, "resembles in his reputed cunning." The verb "to be"
means, then, "to resemble in reputed cunning" when it comes before the
word "fox;" it also means. “to resemble in reputed firmness" when it
comes before "rock;" it means "to resemble in reputed feebleness'" when it
comes before "grass;" “to resemble in reputed sweetness" when it comes
before "rose." In other words, it means everything conceivable which
begins with "resemble,” and has such a range of meaning that we might
set aside a vast host of words with which our language is now encumbered.
4. To define, in a disputed case, the word "is" by "is like," is to do
what, in its own nature, is inaccurate, and, in the present case, is absurd, for
it repeats, in the definition, the word to be defined. If "is" by itself means
"is like," what does it mean when combined with the word "like"? If,
when it is said "Napoleon is a fox," it means "is like a fox," what does it
mean in the sentence thus produced? Define the word "is" in the sentence:
Napoleon is a fox. Now define the word "is" in the sentence: Napoleon is
like a fox.
The same objection virtually holds against all the other proposed
definitions of "is." "Signifies" means "is a sign of;" "symbolizes" means
"is a symbol of." If This is my body means This is a sign of my body, then
This is a sign of my body means This is a sign of a sign of my body; and
this renewed "is" having the same force again of "is a sign," we have an
interminable series in which nothing is or can be, but everything must be
the sign of something else.
5. What does our critic, on his theory, make of such expressions as
this: Louis Napoleon is like a lamb, but is a wolf, nevertheless? Why is it
that when we ask what a thing is, and the reply is: It is like so and so, we
rejoin: We did not ask you what it is like, but what it is? "He is not my
brother, but he is exactly like him." How can terms which are the very
opposite to each other in one case be synonyms in another?
6. How does this theory suit where the article is used in metaphor: "I
am the door." I am like the door? What is the door Christ is like? And if
He is only like that door, would