Success in Referential Communication / Edition 1

by M. Paul

Overview

One of the most basic themes in the philosophy of language is referential uptake, viz., the question of what counts as properly ‘understanding' a referring act in communication. In this inquiry, the particular line pursued goes back to Strawson's work on re-identification, but the immediate influence is that of Gareth Evans. It is argued that traditional and recent proposals fail to account for success in referential communication. A novel account is developed, resembling Evans' account in combining an external success condition with a Fregean one. But, in contrast to Evans, greater emphasis is placed on the action-enabling side of communication. Further topics discussed include the role of mental states in accounting for communication, the impact of re-identification on the understanding of referring acts, and Donnellan's referential/attributive distinction.
Readership: Philosophers, cognitive scientists and semanticists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780792359746
Publisher:	Springer Netherlands
Publication date:	09/30/1999
Series:	Philosophical Studies Series , #80
Edition description:	2000
Pages:	172
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.02(d)

Table of Contents

1 Characterizing Referential Communicaton.- 2 Mental States in Referential Communication.- 3 RE-Identification in Referential Communication.- 4 Accounting for Mental Reference.- 5 Traditional Accounts of Success in Referential Communication.- 6 Evans’ Account of Success in Referential Communication.- 7 A New Account of Success in Referential Communication.- References.