Single Idea 12646

[catalogued under 19. Language / C. Assigning Meanings / 2. Semantics]

Full Idea

Semantics is about constitutive relations between representations and the world. There is, as a matter of principle, no such thing as a psychological theory of meaning.

Gist of Idea

Semantics relates to the world, so it is never just psychological

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (LOT 2 [2008], Ch.3.5)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'LOT 2: the Language of Thought Revisited' [OUP 2008], p.88


A Reaction

The second sentence is in capital letters, but I am still not convinced. The classic difficulty seems to be that you have to use language to pick out the things in the world that are being referred to. Of course, at some point you just see the objects.