Singular Reference: A Descriptivist Perspective
Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Reference, Mind & Body, Reference & Language, Language Arts
| Author: | Francesco Orilia | ISBN: | 9789048133123 |
| Publisher: | Springer Netherlands | Publication: | December 1, 2009 |
| Imprint: | Springer | Language: | English |
| Author: | Francesco Orilia |
| ISBN: | 9789048133123 |
| Publisher: | Springer Netherlands |
| Publication: | December 1, 2009 |
| Imprint: | Springer |
| Language: | English |
Singular reference is the relation that a singular term has to a corresponding individual. For example, "Obama" singularly refer to the current US president. Descriptivism holds that all singular terms refer by means of a concept associated to the term. The current trend is against this. This book explains in detail (mainly for newcomers) why anti-descriptivism became dominant in spite of its weaknesses and (for experts) how these weaknesses can be overcome by appropriately reviving descriptivism.
Singular reference is the relation that a singular term has to a corresponding individual. For example, "Obama" singularly refer to the current US president. Descriptivism holds that all singular terms refer by means of a concept associated to the term. The current trend is against this. This book explains in detail (mainly for newcomers) why anti-descriptivism became dominant in spite of its weaknesses and (for experts) how these weaknesses can be overcome by appropriately reviving descriptivism.
