Does Macbeth See a Dagger? An Empirical Argument for the Existence-Neutrality of Seeing
Erkenntnis:1-24 (forthcoming)
Abstract
In a recent paper, Justin D’Ambrosio (2020) has offered an empirical argument in support of a negative solution to the puzzle of Macbeth’s dagger—namely, the question of whether, in the famous scene from Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth sees a dagger in front of him. D’Ambrosio’s strategy consists in showing that “seeing” is not an existence-neutral verb; that is, that the way it is used in ordinary language is not neutral with respect to whether its complement exists. In this paper, we offer an empirical argument in favor of an existence-neutral reading of “seeing”. In particular, we argue that existence-neutral readings are readily available to language users. We thus call into question D’Ambrosio’s argument for the claim that Macbeth does not see a dagger. According to our positive solution, Macbeth sees a dagger, even though there is not a dagger in front of him.Author Profiles
DOI
10.1007/s10670-022-00549-3
My notes
Similar books and articles
An Empirical Solution to the Puzzle of Macbeth’s Dagger.Justin D’Ambrosio - 2022 - Erkenntnis 87 (3):1377-1414.
Despairing Macbeth: A Speech Out of Place.William Irwin - 2019 - Philosophy and Literature 43 (1):1-10.
Review of Richard Dagger, Playing Fair: Political Obligation and the Problems of Punishment. [REVIEW]Piero Moraro - 2020 - Criminal Law and Philosophy 14 (1):141-147.
« Effets-tableaux » et parergon dans Macbeth Meeting the Three Witches par Francesco Zuccarelli et par Henry Füssli d’après Macbeth Pictorialism and “ergon” in the paintings of Macbeth Meeting the Three Witches by Francesco Zuccarelli and Henry Fuseli after Macbeth.Padilla Nathalie - unknown
The incompleteness of 'punishment as fair play': A response to dagger.Antony Duff - 2008 - Res Publica 14 (4):277-281.
God, God* and God'.Graham Oppy - 2004 - In Anthony Fisher & Hayden Ramsay (eds.), Faith and Reason: Friends or Foes in a New Millennium? Hindmarsh, South Australia: ATF Press. pp. 171-186.
Macbeth Lady Macbeth, de William Shakespeare.Montserrat Iglesias Berzal - 2008 - Critica 58 (955):90.
Analytics
Added to PP
2021-04-10
Downloads
280 (#43,493)
6 months
65 (#19,088)
2021-04-10
Downloads
280 (#43,493)
6 months
65 (#19,088)
Historical graph of downloads