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Single Idea 2559
[filed under theme 19. Language / C. Assigning Meanings / 6. Truth-Conditions Semantics
]
Full Idea
A theory of meaning, for Davidson, is not an assemblage of "analyses" of the meanings of individual terms, but rather an understanding of the inferential relations between sentences.
Gist of Idea
Davidson's theory of meaning focuses not on terms, but on relations between sentences
Source
Richard Rorty (Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature [1980], 6.1)
Book Ref
Rorty,Richard: 'Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature' [Blackwell 1980], p.260
A Reaction
Put that way, the influence of Frege on Davidson is obvious. Purely algebraic expressions can have inferential relations, using variables and formal 'sentences'.
The
15 ideas
with the same theme
[giving meaning by specifying how sentences would be true]:
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7767
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The theory of definite descriptions aims at finding correct truth conditions
[Russell, by Lycan]
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8189
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Truth-condition theorists must argue use can only be described by appeal to conditions of truth
[Dummett]
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8191
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The truth-conditions theory must get agreement on a conception of truth
[Dummett]
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2559
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Davidson's theory of meaning focuses not on terms, but on relations between sentences
[Rorty]
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19132
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Top-down semantic analysis must begin with truth, as it is obvious, and explains linguistic usage
[Davidson]
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11076
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Community implies assertability-conditions rather than truth-conditions semantics
[Kripke, by Hanna]
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6989
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I can understand "He has a beard", without identifying 'he', and hence the truth conditions
[Jackson]
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3079
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Truth in a language is explained by how the structural elements of a sentence contribute to its truth conditions
[Harman]
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16401
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To understand an utterance, you must understand what the world would be like if it is true
[Stalnaker]
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2459
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Externalist semantics are necessary to connect the contents of beliefs with how the world is
[Fodor]
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13964
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Semantic content is a proposition made of sentence constituents (not some set of circumstances)
[Soames]
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2547
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There is information if there are symbols which refer, and which can combine into a truth or falsehood
[McGinn]
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7770
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Truth conditions will come out the same for sentences with 'renate' or 'cordate'
[Lycan]
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18997
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Truth-conditions as subject-matter has problems of relevance, short cut, and reversal
[Yablo]
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7323
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If truth is deflationary, sentence truth-conditions just need good declarative syntax
[Miller,A]
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