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…
Abstract: It is said that inquiry has an aim, though it’s not entirely clear how we should think about this claim. What, in general, does it mean to say that the activity of inquiry has an aim? In this talk I go through a few options and think about them within the context of the…
Cognitive Acquaintance: A Non-Causal Alternative Within literature on singular thought and reference, acquaintance is one of the 鈥榦rthodox鈥� 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鈥檚 articulation of it, today the acquaintance relation…
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