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Single Idea 16360

[from 'Mental Files' by François Recanati, in 9. Objects / F. Identity among Objects / 6. Identity between Objects ]

Full Idea

An identity statement 'A=B' is informative to the extent that the terms 'A' and 'B' are associated with distinct mental files.

Gist of Idea

Identity statements are informative if they link separate mental files

Source

François Recanati (Mental Files [2012], 4.1)

Book Reference

Recanati,François: 'Mental Files' [OUP 2012], p.42


A Reaction

Hence the information in 'Scott is the author of 'Waverley'' is information about what is in your mind, not what is happening in Scotland. This is Recanati's solution to one of Frege's classic puzzles. 'Morning Star' and 'Evening Star' files. Nice.

Related Idea

Idea 16359 Sense is a mental file (not its contents); similar files for Cicero and Tully are two senses [Recanati]