more from Hilary Putnam

Single Idea 2346

[catalogued under 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 1. Meaning]

Full Idea

The notion of meaning, and hence of translation (needed to define truth), presupposes the notion of reference.

Gist of Idea

Meaning and translation (which are needed to define truth) both presuppose the notion of reference

Source

Hilary Putnam (Representation and Reality [1988], §4 p.67)

Book Reference

Putnam,Hilary: 'Representation and Reality' [MIT 1992], p.67


A Reaction

It is plausible to see reference as the fundamental notion of language. With no anchors in reality, language would be 'private', in LW's sense.