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Single Idea 10435

[from 'Reference and Definite Descriptions' by Keith Donnellan, in 19. Language / B. Reference / 4. Descriptive Reference / b. Reference by description ]

Full Idea

Donnellan argued that we could recognize a referential use of a definite description 'the F' by the fact that the speaker could thereby refer to something which is not F.

Gist of Idea

A definite description 'the F' is referential if the speaker could thereby be referring to something not-F

Source

report of Keith Donnellan (Reference and Definite Descriptions [1966]) by Mark Sainsbury - The Essence of Reference 18.5

Book Reference

'Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Language', ed/tr. Lepore,E/Smith,B [OUP 2008], p.415


A Reaction

If the expression employed achieved reference whether the speaker wanted it to or not, it would certainly look as if the expression was inherently referring.