Single Idea 3209

[catalogued under 19. Language / B. Reference / 3. Direct Reference / b. Causal reference]

Full Idea

Causal histories may have some role to play in a theory of reference, but the chain of causation requires internal characterisations at each stage, and the original dubber had one thing rather than another in mind when dubbing.

Gist of Idea

Causal theories of reference (by 'dubbing') don't eliminate meanings in the heads of dubbers

Source

Georges Rey (Contemporary Philosophy of Mind [1997], 9.2.1)

Book Reference

Rey,Georges: 'Contemporary Philosophy of Mind' [Blackwell 1997], p.242


A Reaction

The modern view of direct reference seems to prefer social context rather than a complete causal chain.