Semantic competence and truth-conditional semantics
Erkenntnis 28 (1):3 - 27 (1988)
| Abstract | Davidson approaches the notions of meaning and interpretation with the aim of characterizing semantic competence in the syntactically characterized natural language. The objective is to provide a truth-theory for a language, generating T-sentences expressed in the semantic metalanguage, so that each sentence of the object language receives an appropriate interpretation. Proceeding within the constraints of referential semantics, I will argue for the viability of reconstructing the notion of linguistic meaning within the Tarskian theory of reference. However, the view proposed here involves a revision of Davidson’s con-ception of the object of semantic investigation. Taking (idealized) language-theories as the proper object of semantic characterization, provides solutions to outstanding problems in Davidson’s views, better approximates the practice in standard model-theoretic semantics, and incorporates the elements of semantic competence sought for in tradi¬tional theories of lexical analysis. Sources of evidence beyond those emphasized by Davidson will be invoked in order to allow for the selection of interpre¬tive T-sentences. In the final section, possible Quinean objections will be considered. | |||||||||
| Keywords | Davidson meaning reference radical translation | |||||||||
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Asbjørn Steglich-Petersen (2003). Davidson, Truth, and Semantic Unity. Sats - Nordic Journal of Philosophy 4:124-146.
Claire Horisk (2007). The Expressive Role of Truth in Truth-Conditional Semantics. Philosophical Quarterly 57 (229):535–557.
Steven Gross (forthcoming). Davidson, First Person Authority, and the Evidence for Semantics. In G. Preyer (ed.), Davidson's Philosophy: Truth, Meaning and the Mental. Oxford University Press.
Simon Evnine (1991). Donald Davidson. Stanford University Press.
Mark Schroeder (forthcoming). Semantics, Moral. In Hugh LaFollette (ed.), International Encyclopedia of Ethics. Wiley.
Kari Middleton (2007). The Inconsistency of Deflationary Truth and Davidsonian Meaning. The Proceedings of the Twenty-First World Congress of Philosophy 6:99-103.
Jeff Speaks (2006). Truth Theories, Translation Manuals, and Theories of Meaning. Linguistics and Philosophy 29 (4):487 - 505.
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