The problem of reference: From a Nagelian point of view

Author(s)
Date Issued
2015
Related Publication(s)
Proceedings of the First International Conference on Linguistics and Language Studies (ICLLS 2015)
Start page
39
End page
50
Conference
First International Conference on Linguistics and Language Studies (ICLLS 2015)
Abstract
How can referring terms, i.e. proper names, natural kind terms and definite descriptions, refer to objects in the world? Different philosophers have provided different and conflicting views concerning the nature of reference, which can be grouped basically into two main camps: the description theorists and the direct reference theorists. In this paper, I am going to attempt a Nagelian reconstruction of the problem of reference by interpreting how it arises from the clash of the subjective and objective point of views of human agents as competent language users. I am going to show that the Nagelian theory of reference I propose helps illuminate the nature of the debate of the two dominant theories.
URI
SFU Affiliated Publication
Yes
Availability at SFU Library

No database links found.