Direct Reference: From Language to Thought

This volume puts forward a distinct new theory of direct reference, blending insights from both the Fregean and the Russellian traditions, and fitting the general theory of language understanding used by those working on the pragmatics of natural language. It is the ideal introduction to the subject of direct reference for advanced undergraduates and graduates, looking to explore some of the major topics in language and thought being discussed today.

Preface.

Part I: Direct Reference in Language and Thought.

I.1 De re Communication.

1. Direct Reference and Linguistic Meaning: Rigidity dejure. .

2. Singular Propositions and Thoughts.

3. The Communication of de re Thoughts.

I.2 From Language to Thought.

4. Linguistic and Psychological Modes of Presentation.

5. The Meaning and Cognitive Significance of IndexicalExpressions.

I.3 De re Thoughts.

6. De re Modes of Presentation.

7. Egocentric Concepts vs. Encyclopedia Entries.

I.4 Proper Names.

8. The Meaning of Proper Names.

9. Answering Kripke′s Objections.

10. Proper Names in Thought.

I.5 The Two–Component Picture: A Defence.

11. Narrow Content and Psychological Explanation.

12. Externalism and the Two–Component Picture.

Part II: The Pragmatics of Direct Reference.

II.1 Methodological Preliminaries.

13. Truth–Conditional Pragmatics.

14. Primary Pragmatic Processes.

II.2 Referential/Attributive.

15. The Referential Use of Definite Descriptions.

16. The Descriptive Use of Indexicals.

II.3 Belief Reports.

17. Belief Reports and Conversational Implicatures.

18. Belief Reports and the Semantics of That–Clauses.

19. Comparison with Other Accounts.

20. How Ambiguous are Belief Sentences?.

Bibliography.

Index.

The author is Senior Researcher at CNRS/CREA. Paris. He haspublished many papers and several books on the philosophy oflanguage, including Meaning and Force (1988).