How Reference Works: Explanatory Models for Indexicals, Descriptions, and OpacityIf some aspects of human behavior are too murky to see into, others are too close and transparent to examine; one that has eluded both scientists and philosophers is how speakers of natural languages make words and expressions refer to specific objects in the world. Marshalling his expertise in philosophy, computers, and system science (State U. of |
Contents
Indexicals and Two Models for the Determina | 15 |
Varieties of Contexts | 41 |
The ReferentialAttributive Distinction in Defi | 55 |
Specific and NonSpecific Reference by Means | 75 |
AttentionDirecting Models for the Basic Nature | 95 |
Afterword | 143 |
| 173 | |
| 187 | |
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Common terms and phrases
anaphora attitudinal contexts audience background believes chapter contrast coreferential definite descriptions determination of reference direct attention direct reference theory direct the hearer's discern the referent discourse discourse-dependent context Donnellan ence erence example existence and identity existential quantifier explain explanatory models extensional figure figure-ground model gestures hearer hearer's attention identity claims identity contexts identity statements indefinite indexical reference individual John kind linguistic model for reference murderer of Smith natural language non-specific reference object opacity opaque contexts paradigm perceptual Philosophy physical surroundings pick possible worlds pragmatics predicate logic predication model problem proper names propositional attitude qua member Quine referent qua particular referential-attributive distinction referentially used descriptions relating function reportee specifies rigid designator rigidity role sentence speaker speaker's reference specificatory theory specifies the referent specifying reference subject-predicate substitution Suppose talk theories of reference thing qua tion true truth conditions types underlying W. V. Quine