Single Idea 16355

[catalogued under 19. Language / B. Reference / 4. Descriptive Reference / b. Reference by description]

Full Idea

Three problems with Frege's idea of descriptions in the head are: reference through perception, reference through communicative chains, and reference through indexicals.

Gist of Idea

Problems with descriptivism are reference by perception, by communications and by indexicals

Source

François Recanati (Mental Files [2012], 3.1)

Book Reference

Recanati,François: 'Mental Files' [OUP 2012], p.29


A Reaction

In the end reference has to occur in the head, even if it is social or causal or whatever, so these are not problems that worry me.

Related Idea

Idea 17029 It can't be necessary that Aristotle had the properties commonly attributed to him [Kripke]