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Question: Is a pen still a pen if it contains no ink!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
well if you define a pen by its purpose, to write, then no!. without ink a pen can no longer serve the purpose you've set out for it and it is no longer exactly definable as a pen!.
if you define a pen by its shape and structure, then yes!. the shape of the pen has not changed and it is still built in much the same way, though it is different in that a component is missing!.
(and if a mixture of the two, then no, because it only fits one definition)

so it depends, what is a pen to you!? something of undefined form that writes with ink or a specific physical object that has a specific form with no regard to purpose!?

EDIT (upon seeing your additional details)--
if it never contained ink then its purpose was never to write with ink and you could not define it as such!. so it would still be a pen because nothing about it has changed to change what it is!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I am seeing a lot of these questions!. There is and always only ONE possible answer!.


Asparagus!



seriously, yes it is a pen!. It's just not a usable writing utensil anymore!. Pen, Carrot, Stick, Monkey, these are just the labels applied!. If the thing existed before you labeled it, it exists with or without the label!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes!. Because the shape that hold ink represents a "pen"!. So whether or not there is ink in it or works well, it is still a pen!. Like symbolism!.

How do you know a chair is a "chair"!.!.what if you grew up thinking it was "square box with legs", then it would be that no matter the shape or design!. Even if i had only 2 legs!Www@QuestionHome@Com

A PEN IS a PEN IS even if it contains no ink!.

*Dip pen and quill pen do not have reservoirs of ink, and are still termed as pens!.

**Pen: An enclosed area used to contain domesticated animals, especially sheep or cattle!. Therefore, these kinds of pens do not contain any ink!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Technically it is a nep at that point, in other words it is the inverse of a writing instrument, the polar opposite of which is a pen!. lol

nep-penWww@QuestionHome@Com

An 'it' which contains no ink is an 'it' right!?
and if the 'it' is a pen then ,
a pen which contains no ink is a pen!.
Its like the answer is in the question itself!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The one law of logic, identity!. A thing is what it is!. A pen is a pen!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes, it still a pen, add ink, it just require to visit the market!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Is a milk bottle a milk bottle if it has no milk!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think its a broken pen =P!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It's a dry pen!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It's a pen that serves no purposeWww@QuestionHome@Com

a crappy penWww@QuestionHome@Com

It will if has a refil!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com