back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 12645

[from 'LOT 2' by Jerry A. Fodor, in 19. Language / C. Assigning Meanings / 2. Semantics ]

Full Idea

All you need for inferring from John's utterance to the world is the sort of thing that a semantics (i.e. referential semantics) provides.

Gist of Idea

Semantics (esp. referential semantics) allows inferences from utterances to the world

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (LOT 2 [2008], Ch.3.5)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'LOT 2: the Language of Thought Revisited' [OUP 2008], p.86


A Reaction

Fodor is very good at saying nice simple things like that. But it is not enough to infer what objects are being discussed. All the hard cases must be covered (denials of existence, reference to non-existence, intentional contexts, modal claims).