Single Idea 10322

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

Full Idea

If we lack any general, language-neutral characterization of singular terms, must not a parallel linguistic relativity infect the objects which are to be thought of as their non-linguistic correlates?

Gist of Idea

If singular terms can't be language-neutral, then we face a relativity about their objects

Source

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

Book Reference

Hale,Bob: 'Abstract Objects' [Blackwell 1987], p.41


A Reaction

Hale thinks he can answer this, but I would have thought that this problem dooms the linguistic approach from the start. There needs to be more imagination about how very different a language could be, while still qualifying as a language.