The subtle lives of descriptive names
Abstract
This paper develops a radical alternative to standard accounts of descriptive names. A ‘descriptive name’ is a singular term introduced by a stipulation of form ┌Let α refer to the Ψ┐. It is shown that—contrary to standard views—the reference-fixing mechanism for a descriptive name is not satisfactional. §1 argues for a background view of reference-fixing for ordinary language singular terms. §2 shows how this view generates a non-satisfactional account of reference-fixing for descriptive names. §3 explores the implications of the discussion in §§1–2 for the possibility of descriptively mediated singular thought. §4 argues for a new account of what speaker and hearer are committed to when the speaker makes and the hearer accepts a ┌Let α refer to the Ψ┐ stipulation.
Citation
Dickie , I 2019 , The subtle lives of descriptive names . in E Lepore & D Sosa (eds) , Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Language . vol. 1 , Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Language , Oxford University Press . https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198836568.003.0001
Publication
Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Language
Status
Peer reviewed
Type
Book item
Rights
Copyright © 2019 the Author. This work has been made available online in accordance with publisher policies or with permission. Permission for further reuse of this content should be sought from the publisher or the rights holder. This is the author created accepted manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198836568.003.0001
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