more from Gilbert Harman

Single Idea 12589

[catalogued under 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 7. Meaning Holism / c. Meaning by Role]

Full Idea

I call my conceptual role semantics 'non-solipsistic' to contrast it with that of authors (Field, Fodor, Loar) who think of conceptual role solipsistically as a completely internal matter.

Gist of Idea

Some regard conceptual role semantics as an entirely internal matter

Source

Gilbert Harman ((Nonsolipsistic) Conceptual Role Semantics [1987], 12.1)

Book Reference

Harman,Gilbert: 'Reasoning Meaning and Mind' [OUP 1999], p.206


A Reaction

Evidently Harman is influenced by Putnam's Twin Earth, and that meanings ain't in the head, so that the conceptual role has to be extended out into the world to get a good account. I prefer extending into the language community, rather into reality.