Re: "what i have for dinner"

[Pycyn@aol.com]

<< > On the other hand, it could be argued that if I wonder who came then
 > it does follow that "I want that (Ax) (I know whether x came)".
 
 I think this is an excessively robust kind of wondering.  If I wonder
 who wrote the book of love (from a doo-wop song, full lyric
 available at http://www.fiftiesweb.com/lyrics/booklove.htm), it does
 not follow that I actually want to know this: my curiosity may be
 quite idle.  >>
"Wonder" is inherently a weak kind of inquiry: one can 'just wonder' as a 
dismissal of any question in a way that one can 'just investigate',' say, 
only in contrast with very serious action, like seeking indictments.  But 
more importantly, "I wonder who..." can't be "for all x, I wonder whether 
x..." since there are a lot of x's that I do not know or believe about, and 
many that I actively believe do not exist.  I no more wonder about them than 
I do about the many others that I am convinced do not ... .  Note that the 
"whether" also requires both the negative and the positive answers, whereas 
the original seeks only the positive, though negative ones help, of course.  
Putting the quantifier inside the "want"  (or, for "wonder," "sorta like") 
may help some, since those already move into opaque realms, though different 
ones from the realm of "know" (I can want something I know does not exist -- 
and often do).  
pc