Single Idea 10458

[catalogued under 19. Language / F. Communication / 5. Pragmatics / a. Contextual meaning]

Full Idea

People slide from contextual variability to context relativity to context sensitivity to context dependence to contextual determination.

Gist of Idea

People slide from contextual variability all the way to contextual determination

Source

Kent Bach (What Does It Take to Refer? [2006], 22.2 L3)

Book Reference

'Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Language', ed/tr. Lepore,E/Smith,B [OUP 2008], p.543


A Reaction

This is reminiscent of the epistemological slide from cultural or individual relativity of some observed things, to a huge metaphysical denial of truth. Bach's warning applies to me, as I have been drifting down his slope lately. Nice.