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In this paper we use an experimental approach to investigate how linguistic conventions can emerge in a society without explicit agreement. As a starting point we consider the signaling game introduced by Lewis. We find that in experimental settings, small groups can quickly develop conventions of signal meaning in these games. We also investigate versions of the game where the theoretical literature indicates that meaning will be less likely to arise---when there are more than two states for actors to transfer meaning about and when some states are more likely than others. In these cases, we find that actors are less likely to arrive at strategies where signals have clear conventional meaning. We conclude with a proposal for extending the use of the methodology of experimental economics in experimental philosophy.
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References found in this work BETA
Evolution and the Explanation of Meaning.Simon M. Huttegger - 2007 - Philosophy of Science 74 (1):1-27.
Choosing Justice: An Experimental Approach to Ethical Theory.Norman Frohlich & Joe A. Oppenheimer - 1992 - University of California Press.
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Citations of this work BETA
Deception as Cooperation.Manolo Martínez - 2019 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences 77:101184.
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2016-04-16
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2016-04-16
Total views
16 ( #618,138 of 2,411,494 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
1 ( #538,999 of 2,411,494 )
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