Definite Descriptions, Reference, and Inference
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 20143151 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Marián Zouhar (0000-0003-2455-8722, Comenius University Bratislava, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2007 |
| Volume | 73 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 28-45 |
| Publication date | 2007-03-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Theoria (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0040-5825 • E-ISSN: 1755-2567 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1755-2567.2007.tb01186.x |
| OpenAlex | W1972142676 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 17 |
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
Argument (complex analysis) · Epistemology · Inference · Linguistics · Logical consequence · Natural language processing · Programming language · Relation (database) · Representation (politics) · Rule of inference · Semantics (computer science) · Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science · Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics · Logic, Reasoning, and Knowledge · Philosophy · Philosophy and Theoretical Science
| Highly cited | No |
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