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Linguistic Conventions and Language Change: I argue that data about language change casts doubt on the following two theses of the Lewisian metasemantic picture: that the essential function of language is communication, and that people share a language in virtue of a common interest (namely, to achieve that particular function). I propose a novel metasemantic…

Cognitive Acquaintance: A Non-Causal Alternative Within literature on singular thought and reference, acquaintance is one of the ‘orthodox’ ways successful reference is achieved. Generally speaking, an acquaintance theory articulates that there must be some relation existing between subject and object. While the notion has developed significantly since Russell’s articulation of it, today the acquaintance relation…