Single Idea 10308

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 5. Linguistic Analysis]

Full Idea

I understand questions about the Fregean notion of an object to be inseparable from questions in the philosophy of language - questions of the existence of objects are tantamount to questions about non-vacuous singular terms of a certain kind.

Gist of Idea

Questions about objects are questions about certain non-vacuous singular terms

Source

Bob Hale (Abstract Objects [1987], Ch.1)

Book Reference

Hale,Bob: 'Abstract Objects' [Blackwell 1987], p.4


A Reaction

This view hovers somewhere between Quine and J.L. Austin, and Dummett is its originator. I am instinctively deeply opposed to the identification of metaphysics with semantics.