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Single Idea 7754
[filed under theme 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 2. Descriptions / c. Theory of definite descriptions
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Full Idea
Russell showed that his theory of definite descriptions affords solutions to each of four vexing logical problems: the Problems of Apparent Reference to Non-existents and Negative existentials, Frege's Puzzle about Identity, and Substitutivity.
Gist of Idea
Russell's theory explains non-existents, negative existentials, identity problems, and substitutivity
Source
report of Bertrand Russell (On Denoting [1905]) by William Lycan - Philosophy of Language 2.Over
Book Ref
Lycan,William G.: 'Philosophy of Language' [Routledge 2000], p.12
A Reaction
You must seek elsewhere for the explanations of the four problems, but this gives some indication of why Russell's theory was famous, and was felt to be a breakthrough in explaining logical forms.
Related Idea
Idea 10433
Definite descriptions fail to refer in three situations, so they aren't essentially referring [Russell, by Sainsbury]
The
46 ideas
from 'On Denoting'
18941
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Names don't have a sense, but are disguised definite descriptions
[Russell, by Sawyer]
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4945
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Russell says names are not denotations, but definite descriptions in disguise
[Russell, by Kripke]
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18942
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Russell says a name contributes a complex of properties, rather than an object
[Russell, by Sawyer]
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7745
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Are names descriptions, if the description is unknown, false, not special, or contains names?
[McCullogh on Russell]
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15159
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The meaning of a logically proper name is its referent, but most names are not logically proper
[Russell, by Soames]
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10449
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Logically proper names introduce objects; definite descriptions introduce quantifications
[Russell, by Bach]
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6411
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Critics say definite descriptions can refer, and may not embody both uniqueness and existence claims
[Grayling on Russell]
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10433
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Definite descriptions fail to refer in three situations, so they aren't essentially referring
[Russell, by Sainsbury]
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11009
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Russell's theory must be wrong if it says all statements about non-existents are false
[Read on Russell]
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1608
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The theory of descriptions eliminates the name of the entity whose existence was presupposed
[Russell, by Quine]
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7754
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Russell's theory explains non-existents, negative existentials, identity problems, and substitutivity
[Russell, by Lycan]
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21529
|
Russell showed how to define 'the', and thereby reduce the ontology of logic
[Russell, by Lackey]
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6333
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The theory of definite descriptions reduces the definite article 'the' to the concepts of predicate logic
[Russell, by Horwich]
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6412
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Russell implies that 'the baby is crying' is only true if the baby is unique
[Grayling on Russell]
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7743
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Russell explained descriptions with quantifiers, where Frege treated them as names
[Russell, by McCullogh]
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7310
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Russell avoids non-existent objects by denying that definite descriptions are proper names
[Russell, by Miller,A]
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12006
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Denying definite description sentences are subject-predicate in form blocks two big problems
[Russell, by Forbes,G]
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4569
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Russell says apparent referring expressions are really assertions about properties
[Russell, by Cooper,DE]
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21549
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The theory of descriptions lacks conventions for the scope of quantifiers
[Lackey on Russell]
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12796
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Non-count descriptions don't threaten Russell's theory, which is only about singulars
[Laycock on Russell]
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7532
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Denoting is crucial in Russell's account of mathematics, for identifying classes
[Russell, by Monk]
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11988
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Russell's analysis means molecular sentences are ambiguous over the scope of the description
[Kaplan on Russell]
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6061
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Existence is entirely expressed by the existential quantifier
[Russell, by McGinn]
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18775
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Russell showed that descriptions may not have ontological commitment
[Russell, by Linsky,B]
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7533
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The Theory of Description dropped classes and numbers, leaving propositions, individuals and universals
[Russell, by Monk]
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6063
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Russell can't attribute existence to properties
[McGinn on Russell]
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18777
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If the King of France is not bald, and not not-bald, this violates excluded middle
[Linsky,B on Russell]
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16385
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A definite description 'denotes' an entity if it fits the description uniquely
[Russell, by Recanati]
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4567
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Russell argued with great plausibility that we rarely, if ever, refer with our words
[Russell, by Cooper,DE]
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5810
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Referring is not denoting, and Russell ignores the referential use of definite descriptions
[Donnellan on Russell]
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11006
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Russell started a whole movement in philosophy by providing an analysis of descriptions
[Read on Russell]
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18944
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Russell's theories aim to preserve excluded middle (saying all sentences are T or F)
[Sawyer on Russell]
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18943
|
Russell implies that all sentences containing empty names are false
[Sawyer on Russell]
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7758
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'Elizabeth = Queen of England' is really a predication, not an identity-statement
[Russell, by Lycan]
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7757
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"Nobody" is not a singular term, but a quantifier
[Russell, by Lycan]
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2612
|
Russell rewrote singular term names as predicates
[Russell, by Ayer]
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16987
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By eliminating descriptions from primitive notation, Russell seems to reject 'sense'
[Russell, by Kripke]
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4570
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Russell assumes that expressions refer, but actually speakers refer by using expressions
[Cooper,DE on Russell]
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16349
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Russell rejected sense/reference, because it made direct acquaintance with things impossible
[Russell, by Recanati]
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7313
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'Sense' is superfluous (rather than incoherent)
[Russell, by Miller,A]
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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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5772
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The idea of a variable is fundamental
[Russell]
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5774
|
Denoting phrases are meaningless, but guarantee meaning for propositions
[Russell]
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5775
|
In 'Scott is the author of Waverley', denotation is identical, but meaning is different
[Russell]
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5773
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The ontological argument begins with an unproven claim that 'there exists an x..'
[Russell]
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21726
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In graspable propositions the constituents are real entities of acquaintance
[Russell]
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