Socio-historical Causal Descriptivism. A Hybrid and Alternative Theory of Names Cover Image
  • Price 5.90 €

Socio-historical Causal Descriptivism. A Hybrid and Alternative Theory of Names
Socio-historical Causal Descriptivism. A Hybrid and Alternative Theory of Names

Author(s): Bo Chen
Subject(s): Logic, Analytic Philosophy, Philosophy of Language
Published by: KruZak
Keywords: Name; description; descriptivism; referentialism; sociohistorical causal descriptivism;

Summary/Abstract: This paper argues for a hybrid and alternative theory of names – Sociohistorical Causal Descriptivism, which consists of six claims: (1) the referring relation between a name and an object originates from a generalized “initial baptism” of that object. (2) The causal chain of the name N firstly and mainly transmits informative descriptions of N’s bearer. (3) The meaning of N consists of an open-ended collection of informative descriptions of N’s bearer acknowledged by a linguistic community. (4) With respect to practical needs of agents there is s weighted order in the collection of descriptions of N’s bearer. (5) The meaning or even partial meaning of N, together with the background of a discourse, the network of knowledge, speaker’s intention, etc., determines the referent of N. (6) All names have their own referents, including physical individuals, and parasitic, fictional, or intensional objects; there are few names absolutely without reference.

  • Issue Year: XVI/2016
  • Issue No: 46
  • Page Range: 45-67
  • Page Count: 23
  • Language: English