What is the Manifestation Argument?

Author: Miller A.

Source: Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, Volume 83, Number 4, December 2002 , pp. 352-383(32)

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Abstract:

I consider the well known “manifestation challenge” to semantic realism propounded by Michael Dummett, and further developed by Crispin Wright and Bob Hale. I distinguish between strong and weak versions of the challenge, and show that anti–realists effectively concede that realism can meet the strong version. I then argue that the weak version is unmotivated. Building on work by John McDowell and Peter Strawson, and responding to criticisms from Wright, I argue further that the semantic realist can meet even the weak version. It emerges, inter alia, that there are some serious ambiguities in the standard anti–realist characterisations of semantic realism.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1468-0114.00155

Affiliations: 1: Cardiff University

Publication date: 2002-12-01