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Full Idea
An inferential role semantics is generally seen as a large-scale alternative to a semantics based on reference and other language-world relations.
Gist of Idea
Inferential role semantics is an alternative to semantics that connects to the world
Source
Thomas Hofweber (Ontology and the Ambitions of Metaphysics [2016], 03.4.5)
Book Ref
Hofweber,Thomas: 'Ontology and the Ambitions of Metaphysics' [OUP 2018], p.72
A Reaction
Presumably the other obvious language-world relation is truth. Being a robust realist, I take it I have to be strongly committed to semantics which connects to the world - or do I? Reality is robust, but our talk about it is evasive?
| 18818 | Sentence meaning is given by the actions to which it would lead [Ramsey] |
| 12588 | Meaning from use of thoughts, constructed from concepts, which have a role relating to reality [Harman] |
| 12589 | Some regard conceptual role semantics as an entirely internal matter [Harman] |
| 12600 | The content of thought is relations, between mental states, things in the world, and contexts [Harman] |
| 16278 | A particular functional role is what gives content to a thought [Lewis] |
| 18033 | The meaning of a representation is its role in thought, perception or decisions [Block] |
| 12634 | 'Inferential-role semantics' says meaning is determined by role in inference [Fodor] |
| 3003 | Very different mental states can share their contents, so content doesn't seem to be constructed from functional role [Fodor] |
| 9640 | A term can have not only a sense and a reference, but also a 'computational role' [Brown,JR] |
| 9377 | 'Conceptual role semantics' says terms have meaning from sentences and/or inferences [Boghossian] |
| 9378 | If meaning depends on conceptual role, what properties are needed to do the job? [Boghossian] |
| 21641 | Inferential role semantics is an alternative to semantics that connects to the world [Hofweber] |