Single Idea 19064

[catalogued under 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 10. Denial of Meanings]

Full Idea

In the sense of giving a model for the content of a sentence, its representative power, holism is not a theory of meaning; it is the denial that a theory of meaning is possible.

Gist of Idea

Holism is not a theory of meaning; it is the denial that a theory of meaning is possible

Source

Michael Dummett (The Justification of Deduction [1973], p.309)

Book Reference

Dummett,Michael: 'Truth and Other Enigmas' [Duckworth 1978], p.309


A Reaction

This will obviously be because sentences just don't have meaning in isolation, so their meaning can't be given in terms of the sentences.