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Single Idea 10313

[filed under theme 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 1. Naming / d. Singular terms ]

Full Idea

Some examples where a definite singular noun phrase is not 'genuine' (giving ontological commitment): 'left us in the lurch'; 'for my mother's sake'; 'given the sack'; 'in the nick of time', 'the whereabouts of the PM', 'the identity of the murderer'.

Gist of Idea

Plenty of clear examples have singular terms with no ontological commitment

Source

Bob Hale (Abstract Objects [1987], Ch.2.II)

Book Ref

Hale,Bob: 'Abstract Objects' [Blackwell 1987], p.21

A Reaction

These are not just freakish examples. If I 'go on a journey', that doesn't involve extra entities called 'journeys', just because the meaning is clearer and a more commonplace part of the language.

The 16 ideas with the same theme [any phrase intended to pick out a single object]:

10510 Frege ascribes reference to incomplete expressions, as well as to singular terms [Frege, by Hale]
7757 "Nobody" is not a singular term, but a quantifier [Russell, by Lycan]
2612 Russell rewrote singular term names as predicates [Russell, by Ayer]
9868 An expression refers if it is a singular term in some true sentences [Wright,C, by Dummett]
3137 Varieties of singular terms are used to designate token particulars [Rey]
7755 Singular terms refer, using proper names, definite descriptions, singular personal pronouns, demonstratives, etc. [Lycan]
12230 Singular terms refer if they make certain atomic statements true [Hale/Wright]
10670 A 'singulariser' converts a plural like 'number of' to a syntactically neutral form [Cartwright,H, by Hossack]
10312 Often the same singular term does not ensure reliable inference [Hale]
10313 Plenty of clear examples have singular terms with no ontological commitment [Hale]
10316 We should decide whether singular terms are genuine by their usage [Hale]
10322 If singular terms can't be language-neutral, then we face a relativity about their objects [Hale]
10001 An adjective contributes semantically to a noun phrase [Hofweber]
21636 'Singular terms' are not found in modern linguistics, and are not the same as noun phrases [Hofweber]
21637 If two processes are said to be identical, that doesn't make their terms refer to entities [Hofweber]
16357 Mental files are the counterparts of singular terms [Recanati]