Single Idea 15598

[catalogued under 19. Language / C. Assigning Meanings / 2. Semantics]

Full Idea

A 'semantics' is a body of semantic facts, and a 'semantic theory' is a body of semantic truths. The natural order is a theory being understood as truths, which state facts. Davidson, alas, reversed this order, with facts understood through theories.

Gist of Idea

We should pursue semantic facts as stated by truths in theories (and not put the theories first!)

Source

Kit Fine (Semantic Relationism [2007], 2.C)

Book Reference

Fine,Kit: 'Semantic Relationism' [OUP 2007], p.44


A Reaction

[compressed; he cites Davidson 1967, and calls it 'one of the most unfortunate tendencies in modern philosophy of language, ..as if chemistry were understood in terms of formulae rather than chemical facts'].