Single Idea 4995

[catalogued under 19. Language / B. Reference / 1. Reference theories]

Full Idea

To most behaviourists it seems misguided to expect there to be a single relation that connects referring expressions with their referents.

Gist of Idea

Behaviourists doubt whether reference is a single type of relation

Source

Robert Kirk (Mind and Body [2003], §5.5)

Book Reference

Kirk,Robert: 'Mind and Body' [Acumen 2003], p.107


A Reaction

You don't need to be a behaviourist to feel this doubt. Think about names of real people, names of fictional people, reference to misunderstood items, or imagined items, or reference in dreams, or to mathematical objects, or negations etc.