Single Idea 10312

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 1. Naming / d. Singular terms]

Full Idea

In 'the whale is increasingly scarce' and 'the whale is much improved today' (our pet whale), we cannot infer that there is something that is much improved and increasingly scarce, so this singular term fails Dummett's criterion based on inference.

Gist of Idea

Often the same singular term does not ensure reliable inference

Source

Bob Hale (Abstract Objects [1987], Ch.2)

Book Reference

Hale,Bob: 'Abstract Objects' [Blackwell 1987], p.18


A Reaction

[much rephrased] This is not just a problem for a few cunningly selected examples. With contortions almost any singular term can be undermined in this way. Singular terms are simply not a useful guide to the existence of abstracta.