Definite Descriptions, Reference, and Inference

Theoria 73 (1):28-45 (2007)
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Abstract

The paper presents an argument against referential treatment of definite descriptions' semantics. Referentialism with respect to semantics of definite descriptions claims that when descriptions are used referentially, then they are semantically referring expressions. It is argued that this picture does not lead to a satisfactory representation of propositions expressed by utterances involving definite descriptions. For if propositions are what primarily enters the relation of entailment, then referentialism is commited to the view that (i) some inferences usually taken as valid are claimed to be invalid; (ii) some inferences usually taken as invalid are claimed to be valid; (iii) some inferences that are by no means trivially valid must be taken to be such. It is argued that Russellian‐ism with respect to definite descriptions gives us a better representation of propositions expressed by utterances involving descriptions.

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Marián Zouhar
Comenius University

Citations of this work

Kvantifikácia v prirodzenom jazyku (XI).Marián Zouhar - 2008 - Organon F: Medzinárodný Časopis Pre Analytickú Filozofiu 15 (4):383-398.
Kvantifikácia v prirodzenom jazyku (VII).Marián Zouhar - 2007 - Organon F: Medzinárodný Časopis Pre Analytickú Filozofiu 14 (4):379-398.

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References found in this work

Demonstratives: An Essay on the Semantics, Logic, Metaphysics and Epistemology of Demonstratives and other Indexicals.David Kaplan - 1989 - In Joseph Almog, John Perry & Howard Wettstein (eds.), Themes From Kaplan. Oxford University Press. pp. 481-563.
Themes From Kaplan.Joseph Almog, John Perry & Howard Wettstein (eds.) - 1989 - New York: Oxford University Press.
Descriptions.Stephen Neale - 1990 - MIT Press.
Afterthoughts.David Kaplan - 1989 - In J. Almog, J. Perry & H. Wettstein (eds.), Themes From Kaplan. Oxford University Press. pp. 565-614.

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