This is true about to-infinitive usage?

- "Women and men are persons of equal stature and dignity before the law, and I don't think that that is at all any activist position to be taking with regard to the proper interpretation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment."

In this context, "to be taking" describes the nature or character of the activist position. It suggests a potential or contemplated action in the future, indicating the type of position without strictly defining or limiting it to an ongoing or currently adopted stance.

A defining use, on the other hand, would more explicitly specify a particular activist position, narrowing down the reference. The current construction emphasizes the potential action rather than strictly defining the position being taken.

Question

This is true about to-infinitive usage?

- "Women and men are persons of equal stature and dignity before the law, and I don't think that that is at all any activist position to be taking with regard to the proper interpretation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment."

In this context, "to be taking" describes the nature or character of the activist position. It suggests a potential or contemplated action in the future, indicating the type of position without strictly defining or limiting it to an ongoing or currently adopted stance.

A defining use, on the other hand, would more explicitly specify a particular activist position, narrowing down the reference. The current construction emphasizes the potential action rather than strictly defining the position being taken.

Answer

'It suggests a potential or contemplated action in the future, ...'

To me, it could equally be about the present - that is, referring to someone's present state. Or it could be just a general statement - theoretical so not referring to  any specified time.

It's quite a confusing sentence, though, so is difficult to analyse. Can you provide another example that isn't so complicated, so that it would be easier to see what is happening?

Answer

Yes, your analysis is accurate. In the given context, the phrase "to be taking" is a to-infinitive construction that suggests a potential or contemplated action in the future. It describes the nature or character of the activist position without explicitly defining or limiting it to an ongoing or currently adopted stance. This usage emphasizes the possibility of taking a certain position rather than providing a specific and restrictive definition of the position itself.