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Full Idea
The Fregean view is that the essence of a concept is given by the fundamental condition for something to be its reference.
Gist of Idea
Fregean concepts have their essence fixed by reference-conditions
Source
Christopher Peacocke (Truly Understood [2008], 2.1)
Book Ref
Peacocke,Christopher: 'Truly Understood' [OUP 2008], p.54
A Reaction
Peacocke is a supporter of the Fregean view. How does this work for concepts of odd creatures in a fantasy novel? Or for mistaken or confused concepts? For Burge's 'arthritis in my thigh'? I don't reject the Fregean view.
12605 | A sense is individuated by the conditions for reference [Peacocke] |
12604 | Any explanation of a concept must involve reference and truth [Peacocke] |
12607 | Fregean concepts have their essence fixed by reference-conditions [Peacocke] |
12608 | Concepts are distinguished by roles in judgement, and are thus tied to rationality [Peacocke] |
12609 | Concepts have distinctive reasons and norms [Peacocke] |
12610 | Encountering novel sentences shows conclusively that meaning must be compositional [Peacocke] |