Ideas of Mark Sainsbury, by Theme

[British, b.1943, At King's College, University of London.]

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5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 1. Naming / e. Empty names
It is best to say that a name designates iff there is something for it to designate
5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 2. Descriptions / b. Definite descriptions
Definite descriptions may not be referring expressions, since they can fail to refer
Definite descriptions are usually rigid in subject, but not in predicate, position
7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 10. Vagueness / b. Vagueness of reality
If 'red' is vague, then membership of the set of red things is vague, so there is no set of red things
7. Existence / E. Categories / 2. Categorisation
We should abandon classifying by pigeon-holes, and classify around paradigms
9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 3. Unity Problems / e. Vague objects
Vague concepts are concepts without boundaries
If concepts are vague, people avoid boundaries, can't spot them, and don't want them
Boundaryless concepts tend to come in pairs, such as child/adult, hot/cold
19. Language / B. Reference / 3. Direct Reference / b. Causal reference
A new usage of a name could arise from a mistaken baptism of nothing
19. Language / B. Reference / 5. Speaker's Reference
Even a quantifier like 'someone' can be used referentially
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 3. Natural Function
Things are thought to have a function, even when they can't perform them