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Single Idea 8477

[from 'W.V. Quine' by Alex Orenstein, in 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 10. Denial of Meanings ]

Full Idea

A good part of the confidence people have that there are meanings rests on the confusion of meaning and reference.

Gist of Idea

People presume meanings exist because they confuse meaning and reference

Source

Alex Orenstein (W.V. Quine [2002], Ch.6)

Book Reference

Orenstein,Alex: 'W.V. Quine' [Princeton 2002], p.121


A Reaction

An important point. Everyone assumes that sentences link to the world, but Frege shows that that is not part of meaning. Words like prepositions and conjunctions ('to', 'and') don't have 'a meaning' apart from their function and use.