Single Idea 2459

[catalogued under 19. Language / C. Assigning Meanings / 6. Truth-Conditions Semantics]

Full Idea

You need an externalist semantics to explain why the contents of beliefs should have anything to do with how the world is.

Gist of Idea

Externalist semantics are necessary to connect the contents of beliefs with how the world is

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (The Elm and the Expert [1993], §4)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'The Elm and the Expert' [MIT 1995], p.98


A Reaction

Since externalist semantics only emerged in the 1970s, that implies that no previous theory had any notion that language had some connection to how the world is. Eh?