Referentially used descriptions in truth-conditional semantics
Referentially used descriptions in truth-conditional semantics

Author(s): Andrei Moldovan
Subject(s): Theoretical Linguistics
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
Keywords: definite descriptions; referential uses; truth-conditional semantics; Referentialism; direct reference; rigidity; scope ambiguity
Summary/Abstract: My purpose in this paper is to argue that the referential-attributive distinction concerning definite descriptions is of minor relevance to truth-conditional semantics (although it is of greater semantic significance to a framework of structured propositions). The argument will go as follows: suppose that referential uses of DDs are semantically relevant, and suppose that the thesis of Referentialism (as proposed by Devitt (2007) and Reimer (1998)) is correct: then we should be able to identify the truth-conditional data that shows that Referentialism is preferable to the alternatives. I argue that such data is not readily available. The data that we do find relevant is such that the classical Russellian and Fregean theories can easily account for it.

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