Single Idea 13964

[catalogued under 19. Language / C. Assigning Meanings / 6. Truth-Conditions Semantics]

Full Idea

The semantic content of a sentence is not the set of circumstances supporting its truth. It is rather the semantic content of a structured proposition the constituents of which are the semantic contents of the constituents of the sentence.

Gist of Idea

Semantic content is a proposition made of sentence constituents (not some set of circumstances)

Source

Scott Soames (Why Propositions Aren't Truth-Supporting Circumstance [2008], p.74)

Book Reference

Soames,Scott: 'Philosophical Essays 2:Significance of Language' [Princeton 2009], p.74


A Reaction

I'm not sure I get this, but while I like the truth-conditions view, I am suspicious of any proposal that the semantic content of something is some actual physical ingredients of the world. Meanings aren't sticks and stones.