more from Donald Davidson

Single Idea 19162

[catalogued under 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 6. Meaning as Use]

Full Idea

Meaning depends on use, but it is not easy to say how, for uses to which we may put the utterance of a sentence are endless while its meaning remains fixed.

Gist of Idea

Meaning involves use, but a sentence has many uses, while meaning stays fixed

Source

Donald Davidson (Truth and Predication [2005], 6)

Book Reference

Davidson,Donald: 'Truth and Predication' [Belknap Harvard 2005], p.123


A Reaction

Quite so. The password is 'Swordfish' (or 'Sweet marjoram', if you prefer).