Psychology Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Description theory: the thesis according to which the meaning of expressions corresponds to the description of the respective objects. Russell's theory of descriptions is a philosophical theory of how to understand definite descriptions, such as "the tallest man in the world." Russell argued that definite descriptions make two claims about the world there exists an object that satisfies the description, and there is only one object that satisfies the description._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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Maxwell J. Cresswell on Description Theory - Dictionary of Arguments
II 47 Definition Description theory/Cresswell: (here): the description theory asserts that a name is synonymous with an equivalent specific description. This still allows for a wide range of interpretation. >Descriptions, >Names, >Synonymy. For example, "the planet called phosphorus" is such a description. - Vs: "Phosphorus" is the planet called Phosphorus" is not a necessary truth. ((s) de re). II 150 Discription Theory/Loar/Bach/Cresswell: Loar (1976(1), 370-373) and Bach (1981)(2) defend the kind of description theory, which makes "Phosphorus" to something, which means something like "is called "Phosphorus". II 150 VsDescription theory/Cresswell: the description theory is circular, because the use of a name to refer to someone is involved. - (Also Kripke 1972(3), 283, 286.) LoarVsVs: (1976(1) p.371): it is not at all that we are referring to something, by saying, "the referent of this expression "..." The reference is rather intrinsic. Cresswell ditto. >Reference, >Intrinsicness. II 153 Description theory/de re/Cresswell: Example (Partee) Loar believes that semantics is a branch of psychology, while Thomason believes that it is a branch of mathematics - that cannot be de re, because then both cannot be right. >de re, >de dicto. Solution: Description theory: Loar believes that the thing that is called "semantics" is a branch of psychology, while Thomason believes it is a branch of mathematics. - "It" then does not stand for a thing, but for the property of being called "semantics". >Semantics, >Properties. 1.Loar, B. The semantics of singular terms. Philos Stud 30, 353–377 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00372537 2.Bach, Emmon. 1981. On Time, Tense, and Aspects: An Essay in English Metaphysics. inPeter Cole (ed.), Radical Pragmatics , New York: Academic Press, 63-8 3. Saul A. Kripke (1972): Naming and Necessity, in: Davidson/Harmann (eds.) (1972), 253-355_____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Cr I M. J. Cresswell Semantical Essays (Possible worlds and their rivals) Dordrecht Boston 1988 Cr II M. J. Cresswell Structured Meanings Cambridge Mass. 1984 |
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> Counter arguments against Cresswell
> Counter arguments in relation to Description Theory
