Single Idea 21653

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 1. Naming / c. Names as referential]

Full Idea

A more radical alternative which takes names not to be referring even in the broader sense, but only takes speakers to refer with uses of names.

Gist of Idea

Maybe not even names are referential, but are just by used by speakers to refer

Source

Thomas Hofweber (Ontology and the Ambitions of Metaphysics [2016], 08.1)

Book Reference

Hofweber,Thomas: 'Ontology and the Ambitions of Metaphysics' [OUP 2018], p.205


A Reaction

Given that you can make up nicknames and silly nonce names for people, this seems plausible. I may say a name in a crowded room and three people look up.

Related Idea

Idea 21650 No language is semantically referential; it all occurs at the level of thought or utterance [Pietroski, by Hofweber]