The Theory of Descriptions [electronic resource] : Russell and the Philosophy of Language /
Stevens, Graham.author.
The book combines a historical and philosophical study of Russell's theory of descriptions. It defends, develops and extends the theory as a contribution to natural language semantics while also arguing for a reassessment of the important of linguistic inquiry to Russell's philosophical project.
Description based upon print version of record.
Cover; Series page; Title; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1 The Theory; 1.1 Denoting phrases; 1.2 Singular terms; 1.3 The theory of descriptions; 1.4 Scope; 1.5 The reception of the theory of descriptions; 2 History I: The 1903 Theory of Denoting; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 The standard reading; 2.3 Russell's alleged 'Meinongianism'; 2.4 The 1903 theory of denoting; 2.5 Rejecting the Meinongian interpretation (I):empty denoting phrases; 2.6 Rejecting the Meinongian interpretation (II):empty proper names
2.7 Rejecting the Meinongian interpretation (III):denying existence2.8 Conclusion; 3 History II: 'On Denoting' and the Genesis of the Theory of Descriptions; 3.1 The theory of descriptions and the theory of types; 3.2 The Gray's Elegy Argument; 4 Descriptions and Logical Form; 4.1 Introduction; 4.2 Descriptions as quantifiers and the LF hypothesis; 4.3 Incomplete symbols - the objections; 4.4 Incomplete symbols - responding to the objections; 4.5 Incomplete symbols and object independence; 4.6 Conclusion; 5 Extending the Theory I: Complex Demonstratives
5.1 Complex demonstratives and the orthodox view5.2 Syntactic data against the orthodox view; 5.3 Semantic data against the orthodox view; 5.4 Quantificational analyses; 5.5 The semantics and pragmatics of 'that' and 'the'; 6 Extending the Theory II: Indexicality; 6.1 Russell on egocentric particulars; 6.2 Contemporary work: Kaplan's indexical semantics; 6.3 Problems for the contemporary view; 6.4 A Russellian response: the inner and the outer spaces of egocentric semantics; 6.5 The egocentric character of singular thought; 7 Russell and the Philosophy of Language; Notes; Bibliography; Index
Includes bibliographical references and index.
The book combines a historical and philosophical study of Russell's theory of descriptions. It defends, develops and extends the theory as a contribution to natural language semantics while also arguing for a reassessment of the important of linguistic inquiry to Russell's philosophical project.
Russell, Bertrand, 1872-1970.
Linguistics
Philosophy (General).
Applied linguistics.
Semantics.
Linguistics.
Hermeneutics.
Philosophy of Language.
History of Philosophy.
Applied Linguistics.
Semantics.
Historical Linguistics.
Hermeneutics.