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Single Idea 16385

[filed under theme 19. Language / B. Reference / 2. Denoting ]

Full Idea

In Russell's definition of 'denoting', a definite description denotes an entity if that entity fits the description uniquely.

Gist of Idea

A definite description 'denotes' an entity if it fits the description uniquely

Source

report of Bertrand Russell (On Denoting [1905]) by François Recanati - Mental Files 17.2

Book Ref

Recanati,François: 'Mental Files' [OUP 2012], p.226

A Reaction

[Recanati cites Donnellan for this] Hence denoting is not the same thing as reference. A description can denote beautifully, but fail to refer. Donnellan says if denoting were reference, someone might refer without realising it.

The 46 ideas from 'On Denoting'

15159 The meaning of a logically proper name is its referent, but most names are not logically proper [Russell, by Soames]
18941 Names don't have a sense, but are disguised definite descriptions [Russell, by Sawyer]
4945 Russell says names are not denotations, but definite descriptions in disguise [Russell, by Kripke]
18942 Russell says a name contributes a complex of properties, rather than an object [Russell, by Sawyer]
7745 Are names descriptions, if the description is unknown, false, not special, or contains names? [McCullogh on Russell]
10449 Logically proper names introduce objects; definite descriptions introduce quantifications [Russell, by Bach]
2612 Russell rewrote singular term names as predicates [Russell, by Ayer]
7757 "Nobody" is not a singular term, but a quantifier [Russell, by Lycan]
18943 Russell implies that all sentences containing empty names are false [Sawyer on Russell]
6411 Critics say definite descriptions can refer, and may not embody both uniqueness and existence claims [Grayling on Russell]
10433 Definite descriptions fail to refer in three situations, so they aren't essentially referring [Russell, by Sainsbury]
11009 Russell's theory must be wrong if it says all statements about non-existents are false [Read on Russell]
1608 The theory of descriptions eliminates the name of the entity whose existence was presupposed [Russell, by Quine]
7754 Russell's theory explains non-existents, negative existentials, identity problems, and substitutivity [Russell, by Lycan]
21529 Russell showed how to define 'the', and thereby reduce the ontology of logic [Russell, by Lackey]
6333 The theory of definite descriptions reduces the definite article 'the' to the concepts of predicate logic [Russell, by Horwich]
6412 Russell implies that 'the baby is crying' is only true if the baby is unique [Grayling on Russell]
7743 Russell explained descriptions with quantifiers, where Frege treated them as names [Russell, by McCullogh]
7310 Russell avoids non-existent objects by denying that definite descriptions are proper names [Russell, by Miller,A]
12006 Denying definite description sentences are subject-predicate in form blocks two big problems [Russell, by Forbes,G]
4569 Russell says apparent referring expressions are really assertions about properties [Russell, by Cooper,DE]
21549 The theory of descriptions lacks conventions for the scope of quantifiers [Lackey on Russell]
12796 Non-count descriptions don't threaten Russell's theory, which is only about singulars [Laycock on Russell]
7532 Denoting is crucial in Russell's account of mathematics, for identifying classes [Russell, by Monk]
11988 Russell's analysis means molecular sentences are ambiguous over the scope of the description [Kaplan on Russell]
6061 Existence is entirely expressed by the existential quantifier [Russell, by McGinn]
18775 Russell showed that descriptions may not have ontological commitment [Russell, by Linsky,B]
7533 The Theory of Description dropped classes and numbers, leaving propositions, individuals and universals [Russell, by Monk]
6063 Russell can't attribute existence to properties [McGinn on Russell]
18777 If the King of France is not bald, and not not-bald, this violates excluded middle [Linsky,B on Russell]
16385 A definite description 'denotes' an entity if it fits the description uniquely [Russell, by Recanati]
4567 Russell argued with great plausibility that we rarely, if ever, refer with our words [Russell, by Cooper,DE]
5810 Referring is not denoting, and Russell ignores the referential use of definite descriptions [Donnellan on Russell]
11006 Russell started a whole movement in philosophy by providing an analysis of descriptions [Read on Russell]
18944 Russell's theories aim to preserve excluded middle (saying all sentences are T or F) [Sawyer on Russell]
7758 'Elizabeth = Queen of England' is really a predication, not an identity-statement [Russell, by Lycan]
16987 By eliminating descriptions from primitive notation, Russell seems to reject 'sense' [Russell, by Kripke]
4570 Russell assumes that expressions refer, but actually speakers refer by using expressions [Cooper,DE on Russell]
7767 The theory of definite descriptions aims at finding correct truth conditions [Russell, by Lycan]
16349 Russell rejected sense/reference, because it made direct acquaintance with things impossible [Russell, by Recanati]
7313 'Sense' is superfluous (rather than incoherent) [Russell, by Miller,A]
5772 The idea of a variable is fundamental [Russell]
5774 Denoting phrases are meaningless, but guarantee meaning for propositions [Russell]
5775 In 'Scott is the author of Waverley', denotation is identical, but meaning is different [Russell]
5773 The ontological argument begins with an unproven claim that 'there exists an x..' [Russell]
21726 In graspable propositions the constituents are real entities of acquaintance [Russell]