more from this thinker     |     more from this text

Single Idea 6899

[filed under theme 19. Language / C. Assigning Meanings / 9. Indexical Semantics ]

Full Idea

Indexicals are expressions whose references depend on the circumstances of utterance, such as 'here', 'now', 'last month' 'I', 'you'. It was introduced by Peirce; Reichenbach called them 'token-reflexive', Russell 'ego-centric particulars'.

Gist of Idea

The references of indexicals ('there', 'now', 'I') depend on the circumstances of utterance

Source

Thomas Mautner (Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy [1996], p.272)

Book Ref

Mautner,Thomas: 'Dictionary of Philosophy' [Penguin 1997], p.272

A Reaction

Peirce's terminology seems best. They obviously create great problems for any theory of reference which is rather theoretical and linguistic, such as by the use of descriptions. You can't understand 'Look at that!' without practical awareness.

The 15 ideas with the same theme [giving meanings for terms that obviously depend on context]:

19233 Indexicals are unusual words, because they stimulate the hearer to look around [Peirce]
21550 Science reduces indexicals to a minimum, but they can never be eliminated from empirical matters [Russell]
7769 You can state truth-conditions for "I am sick now" by relativising it to a speaker at a time [Davidson, by Lycan]
12151 If we replace 'I' in sentences about me, they are different beliefs and explanations of behaviour [Perry]
18412 Indexicals individuate certain belief states, helping in explanation and prediction [Perry]
22418 I can know indexical truths a priori, unlike their non-indexical paraphrases [McGinn]
6899 The references of indexicals ('there', 'now', 'I') depend on the circumstances of utterance [Mautner]
15605 I take indexicals such as 'this' and 'that' to be linked to some associated demonstration [Fine,K]
22932 We don't just describe a time as 'now' from a private viewpoint, but as a fact about the world [Le Poidevin]
16389 If two people think 'I am tired', they think the same thing, and they think different things [Recanati]
16364 Indexical don't refer; only their tokens do [Recanati]
16363 Indexicals (like mental files) determine their reference relationally, not by satisfaction [Recanati]
18408 Indexicals are just non-constant in meaning, and don't involve any special concepts [Cappelen/Dever]
18414 Fregeans say 'I' differs in reference, so it must also differ in sense [Cappelen/Dever]
18423 All indexicals can be expressed non-indexically [Cappelen/Dever]