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Single Idea 18945

[from 'Empty Names' by Sarah Sawyer, in 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 1. Naming / c. Names as referential ]

Full Idea

The Millian view of direct reference says that the meaning of a name is the object named.

Gist of Idea

Millians say a name just means its object

Source

Sarah Sawyer (Empty Names [2012], 4)

Book Reference

'Routledge Companion to Phil of Language', ed/tr. Russell/Graff Faria [Routledge 2015], p.156


A Reaction

Any theory that says meaning somehow is features of the physical world strikes me as totally misguided. Napoleon is a man, so he can't be part of a sentence. He delegates that job to words (such as 'Napoleon').