Success in Referential Communication
By: by Matthias Paul
Series: Philosophical Studies Series -- 80; Philosophical Studies Series -- 80
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published: 1999
Place of publication: Dordrecht
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] /
Number of pages: 176
ISBN-13: 9789048153220; 9789401731812
Subjects: Linguistics; Philosophy (General); Semantics; Humanities; Philosophy; Social sciences; Artificial intelligence
Description: One of the most basic themes in the philosophy of language is referential uptake, viz., the question of what counts as properly `understanding' a referring act in communication. In this inquiry, the particular line pursued goes back to Strawson's work on re-identification, but the immediate influence is that of Gareth Evans. It is argued that traditional and recent proposals fail to account for success in referential communication. A novel account is developed, resembling Evans' account in combining an external success condition with a Fregean one. But, in contrast to Evans, greater emphasis is placed on the action-enabling side of communication. Further topics discussed include the role of mental states in accounting for communication, the impact of re-identification on the understanding of referring acts, and Donnellan's referential/attributive distinction. Readership: Philosophers, cognitive scientists and semanticists.
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