Single Idea 18408

[catalogued under 19. Language / C. Assigning Meanings / 9. Indexical Semantics]

Full Idea

Once the non-constant characters of expressions has been characterised, there is no further need for additional devices like 'first-person concepts' or 'demonstrative concepts'.

Gist of Idea

Indexicals are just non-constant in meaning, and don't involve any special concepts

Source

Cappelen,H/Dever,Josh (The Inessential Indexical [2013], 01.7)

Book Reference

Cappelen,H/Dever,J: 'The Inessential Indexical' [OUP 2013], p.16


A Reaction

This seems to me to be a wonderfully liberating attack on this issue. There is a kind of creepy mysticism that has been allowed to accrue around indexicals, and it's nonsense.