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Single Idea 16350
[filed under theme 19. Language / C. Assigning Meanings / 10. Two-Dimensional Semantics
]
Full Idea
Descriptivism has trouble catching the singularity of objects, construing them as only directly about properties. …To get the truth-conditions right, it is claimed, the descriptivist only as to go two-dimensional.
Gist of Idea
Two-D semantics is said to help descriptivism of reference deal with singular objects
Source
François Recanati (Mental Files [2012], 2.1)
Book Ref
Recanati,François: 'Mental Files' [OUP 2012], p.17
A Reaction
I suspect that the descriptivist only has a problem here because context is being ignored. 'That man on the beach' can quickly be made uniquely singular after a brief chat.
Related Ideas
Idea 16348
Descriptivism says we mentally relate to objects through their properties [Recanati]
Idea 16351
In 2-D semantics, reference is determined, then singularity by the truth of a predication [Recanati]
The
44 ideas
from François Recanati
18409
|
Indexicals apply to singular thought, and mental files have essentially indexical features
[Recanati]
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16348
|
Descriptivism says we mentally relate to objects through their properties
[Recanati]
|
16371
|
Files can be confused, if two files correctly have a single name, or one file has two names
[Recanati]
|
16372
|
Sense determines reference says same sense/same reference; new reference means new sense
[Recanati]
|
16373
|
Encylopedic files have further epistemic links, beyond the basic one
[Recanati]
|
16374
|
There is a continuum from acquaintance to description in knowledge, depending on the link
[Recanati]
|
16375
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Singular thoughts need a mental file, and an acquaintance relation from file to object
[Recanati]
|
16377
|
Expected acquaintance can create a thought-vehicle file, but without singular content
[Recanati]
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16378
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An 'indexed' file marks a file which simulates the mental file of some other person
[Recanati]
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16381
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The content of thought is what is required to understand it (which involves hearers)
[Recanati]
|
16380
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Russellian propositions are better than Fregean thoughts, by being constant through communication
[Recanati]
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16384
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Definite descriptions reveal either a predicate (attributive use) or the file it belongs in (referential)
[Recanati]
|
16382
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Fregean modes of presentation can be understood as mental files
[Recanati]
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16386
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Direct reference is strong Millian (just a tag) or weak Kaplanian (allowing descriptions as well)
[Recanati]
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16387
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Reference by mental files is Millian, in emphasising acquaintance, rather than satisfaction
[Recanati]
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16388
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We need sense as well as reference, but in a non-descriptive form, and mental files do that
[Recanati]
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16389
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If two people think 'I am tired', they think the same thing, and they think different things
[Recanati]
|
16393
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In super-direct reference, the referent serves as its own vehicle of reference
[Recanati]
|
16351
|
In 2-D semantics, reference is determined, then singularity by the truth of a predication
[Recanati]
|
16350
|
Two-D semantics is said to help descriptivism of reference deal with singular objects
[Recanati]
|
16352
|
A rigid definite description can be attributive, not referential: 'the actual F, whoever he is….'
[Recanati]
|
16353
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Singularity cannot be described, and it needs actual world relations
[Recanati]
|
16354
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Indexicality is closely related to singularity, exploiting our direct relations with things
[Recanati]
|
16355
|
Problems with descriptivism are reference by perception, by communications and by indexicals
[Recanati]
|
16356
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There may be two types of reference in language and thought: descriptive and direct
[Recanati]
|
16357
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Mental files are the counterparts of singular terms
[Recanati]
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16358
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The reference of a file is fixed by what it relates to, not the information it contains
[Recanati]
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16359
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Sense is a mental file (not its contents); similar files for Cicero and Tully are two senses
[Recanati]
|
16361
|
A mental file treats all of its contents as concerning one object
[Recanati]
|
16360
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Identity statements are informative if they link separate mental files
[Recanati]
|
16364
|
Indexical don't refer; only their tokens do
[Recanati]
|
16363
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Indexicals (like mental files) determine their reference relationally, not by satisfaction
[Recanati]
|
16365
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Mental files are individual concepts (thought constituents)
[Recanati]
|
16367
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There are transient 'demonstrative' files, habitual 'recognitional' files, cumulative 'encyclopedic' files
[Recanati]
|
16368
|
Files are hierarchical: proto-files, then first-order, then higher-order encyclopedic
[Recanati]
|
16370
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A file has a 'nucleus' through its relation to the object, and a 'periphery' of links to other files
[Recanati]
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22242
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Mental files are concepts, which are either collections or (better) containers
[Recanati]
|
22243
|
The Frege case of believing a thing is both F and not-F is explained by separate mental files
[Recanati]
|
22245
|
A linguistic expression refers to what its associated mental file refers to
[Recanati]
|
22246
|
A train of reasoning must be treated as all happening simultaneously
[Recanati]
|
22247
|
Indexicality is not just a feature of language; examples show it also occurs in thought
[Recanati]
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22248
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How can we communicate indexical thoughts to people not in the right context?
[Recanati]
|
22249
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The Naive view of communication is that hearers acquire exactly the thoughts of the speaker
[Recanati]
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22250
|
There are speakers' thoughts and hearers' thoughts, but no further thought attached to the utterance
[Recanati]
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