The Importance of Analyzing Existential Commitments

Russell's argument was that the surface forms of language are systematically misleading, really, as to their underlying logical form. The purpose of analysis is to reveal that underlying logical form so that we can really see what's being said and reveal our existential commitments. And the example of the present king of France's board shows with complete perspicuity that process in operation. We are quite clearly committing ourselves to the existence of something then we're saying some other things about it.