Bohloul Alaei
Abstract
Inadequacy of descriptive theories to account for the mechanism of reference led to the emergence of the direct reference theory. This theory, however, has its own problems. If the ...
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Inadequacy of descriptive theories to account for the mechanism of reference led to the emergence of the direct reference theory. This theory, however, has its own problems. If the only component of the meaning of a proper name is its referent, then how is it that the substitution of two co-referent proper names in propositional attitude sentences changes the truth value of the sentence? The proponents of the theory have provided some responses, but not everyone has been convinced. Moreover, language philosophers and semanticists have tried to solve the problem. Most of these solutions involve diversion from the principles of the direct theory. Among these, though, the pragmatic solution seems the most acceptable one. However, taking a pragmatic conception of reference and utilizing de dicto - de re interpretive distinction, this study gives a clearer account of the problem. It will be shown that the substitution of co-referent proper names might cause changes in truth value of the sentence, only when the pragmatic factors yield a different referent for the proper name.