Naming and Reference
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A01=R.J. Nelson
Agnostic
algorithmic reference theory
atomic
Atomic Facts
Atomic Sentences
Author_R.J. Nelson
Belief Sentences
Category=CFA
Category=CFG
Category=DS
Category=GTD
Category=QD
Category=QDTJ
Category=QDTM
causal theory of reference
cognitive science linguistics
computational logic models
definite
Definite Descriptions
description
empty
eq_bestseller
eq_biography-true-stories
eq_dictionaries-language-reference
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
Fix Reference
Fourth Moon
Fregean Semantics
Incomplete Symbol
Intensional Sentences
Junior Author
machine
name
Natural Kind Terms
Observation Sentences
Ordinary Names
philosophy of language
philosophy of mind
Predicate Calculus
proper names theory
Proxy Function
Pure Semantics
Purported Reference
Recursive Definition
Russell's Theory
Russell’s Theory
sentence
singular
Singular Term
term
turing
Turing Machines
Turing's Thesis
Turing’s Thesis
Vice Versa
Violates
Product details
- ISBN 9781138871380
- Weight: 385g
- Dimensions: 138 x 216mm
- Publication Date: 27 Apr 2015
- Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Paperback
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The question of how language relates to the world is one of the most important problems of philosophy. What the word `God' refers to and the question `Does God exist?' are clearly linked. The existence or non-existence of God (or electrons or unicorns) is directly related to the issue of what and how a name names. Naming and Reference tackles the challenge of explaining the referring power of names. More specifically it explores the reference of lexical terms (especially proper names and pronouns) and the issue of empty or speculative names such as `Satan' and `leptons'. The lack of semantics of such terms is a serious difficulty for linguistics, cognitive science and epistemology. In the first half of the book, a survey of the history of the subject is made from Locke to Kripke and Fodor. The second half contains a theory of reference which takes seriously the causal notion of reference, while at the same time preserving Frege's distinction between sense and reference. The algorithmic theory of reference that results treats reference in explicitly non-semantical terms. It incorporates or reflects the latest work in computational logic, cognitive science, philosophy of mind, linguistics and brain biology.
