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Single Idea 7755

[filed under theme 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 1. Naming / d. Singular terms ]

Full Idea

The paradigmatic referring devices are singular terms, denoting particular items. In English these include proper names, definite descriptions, singular personal pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, and a few others.

Gist of Idea

Singular terms refer, using proper names, definite descriptions, singular personal pronouns, demonstratives, etc.

Source

William Lycan (Philosophy of Language [2000], Ch. 1)

Book Ref

Lycan,William G.: 'Philosophy of Language' [Routledge 2000], p.13

A Reaction

This list provides the agenda for twentieth century philosophy of language, since this is the point where language is supposed to hook onto the world.

The 16 ideas with the same theme [any phrase intended to pick out a single object]:

10510 Frege ascribes reference to incomplete expressions, as well as to singular terms [Frege, by Hale]
7757 "Nobody" is not a singular term, but a quantifier [Russell, by Lycan]
2612 Russell rewrote singular term names as predicates [Russell, by Ayer]
9868 An expression refers if it is a singular term in some true sentences [Wright,C, by Dummett]
3137 Varieties of singular terms are used to designate token particulars [Rey]
7755 Singular terms refer, using proper names, definite descriptions, singular personal pronouns, demonstratives, etc. [Lycan]
12230 Singular terms refer if they make certain atomic statements true [Hale/Wright]
10670 A 'singulariser' converts a plural like 'number of' to a syntactically neutral form [Cartwright,H, by Hossack]
10312 Often the same singular term does not ensure reliable inference [Hale]
10313 Plenty of clear examples have singular terms with no ontological commitment [Hale]
10316 We should decide whether singular terms are genuine by their usage [Hale]
10322 If singular terms can't be language-neutral, then we face a relativity about their objects [Hale]
10001 An adjective contributes semantically to a noun phrase [Hofweber]
21636 'Singular terms' are not found in modern linguistics, and are not the same as noun phrases [Hofweber]
21637 If two processes are said to be identical, that doesn't make their terms refer to entities [Hofweber]
16357 Mental files are the counterparts of singular terms [Recanati]