 Some preliminary observations. Both propositions exist; they are true and so they must exist in order to be true. (Assuming something like “serious actualism”, see above.) Equally, both propositions are about the very same individual, Socrates, though there’s a sense in which &lt;Socrates was wise&gt; is about Socrates more thoroughly (more intimately) than &lt;Plato’s finest teacher was wise&gt; is about him. Indeed, it seems that &lt;Socrates was wise&gt; is “directly” about Socrates, whereas &lt;Plato’s finest teacher was wise&gt; is only “indirectly” about him. &lt;Socrates was wise&gt; cannot fail to be about Socrates; it determines Socrates, the same individual, in all possible contexts. But, by contrast, &lt;Plato’s finest teacher was wise&gt; is about Socrates only accidentally, only in virtue of the contingent fact that Socrates was Plato’s finest teacher.