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Single Idea 3210

[filed under theme 19. Language / B. Reference / 3. Direct Reference / b. Causal reference ]

Full Idea

What is special about meaning? If meaning and reference are just the result of causal chains, almost everything will mean something, since almost everything is reliably caused by something.

Gist of Idea

If meaning and reference are based on causation, then virtually everything has meaning

Source

Georges Rey (Contemporary Philosophy of Mind [1997], 9.2.2)

Book Ref

Rey,Georges: 'Contemporary Philosophy of Mind' [Blackwell 1997], p.243


A Reaction

It would be insane to think that all causal events produced meanings. It is probably better not to mention causation at all when discussing meaning.