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Single Idea 7767

[from 'On Denoting' by Bertrand Russell, in 19. Language / C. Assigning Meanings / 6. Truth-Conditions Semantics ]

Full Idea

Russell's theory of definite descriptions proceeds by sketching the truth conditions of sentences containing descriptions, and arguing on various grounds that they are the correct truth conditions.

Gist of Idea

The theory of definite descriptions aims at finding correct truth conditions

Source

report of Bertrand Russell (On Denoting [1905]) by William Lycan - Philosophy of Language Ch.9

Book Reference

Lycan,William G.: 'Philosophy of Language' [Routledge 2000], p.131


A Reaction

It seems important to see both where Russell was going, and where Davidson has come from. The whole project of finding the logical form of sentences (which starts with Frege and Russell) implies that truth conditions is what matters.