Can there be a Uniform Application of Direct Reference?

Author: Alberto Voltolini

Source: Erkenntnis, Volume 61, Number 1, July 2004 , pp. 75-98(24)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

There are two interpretations of what it means for a singular term to be referentially direct, one truth-conditional and the other cognitive. It has been argued that on the former interpretation, both proper names and indexicals refer directly, whereas on the latter only proper names are directly referential. However, these interpretations in fact apply to the same singular terms. This paper argues that, if conceived in purely normative terms, the linguistic meaning of indexicals can no longer be held to make these terms referentially indirect under the second interpretation. This result is then generalized to proper names, by ascribing them a normative meaning as well.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/B:ERKE.0000037521.46052.17

Affiliations: 1: Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici, Università del Piemonte Orientale a Vercelli, via G. Ferraris 116, I-13100 Vercelli, Italy, : albertov@lett.unipmn.it, Email: albertov@lett.unipmn.it

Publication date: 2004-07-01