Preliminaries in reference and definite descriptions 1966, keith donnellan argued that there were two different uses of definite descriptions. For russell, definite descriptions are included, such as the man, the president, the city. Donnellan, reference and definite descriptions philpapers. This chapter discusses definite descriptions, arguing that they have two possible functions and that failure to deal with this duality of function obscures the genuine referring use of definite descriptions. Keith donnellan keith donnellan 1931 began his studies at the university of maryland, and earned his bachelors degree from cornell university. Keith donnellan in his 1966 paper reference and definite descriptions introduces the distinction between attributive and referential uses of definite descriptions. Demonstrative reference and definite descriptions article pdf available in philosophical studies 402. And the definite description that ive tied to the name santa may be very different to the one youve tied to santa. I think it is of considerable constructive as well as critical. Names refer, and there is a problem if the reference doesnt exist, which is why russell restricts. Essays on reference, language, and mind keith donnellan, joseph almog, paolo leonardi on. Donnellan proper names and identifying descriptions i there is an extremely plausible principle about proper names that many philosophers up to the present have either assumed or argued for.
The pragmatics of this distinction can not be discussed in isolation. Essays on reference, language, and mind keith donnellan. Moreover, a definite description occurring in one and the same sentence may, on different occasions of its use, function in either way. Donnellan s causal theory of reference which excludes santa is the realists way of. Attributive and referential uses of descriptions in. Denotation has to do with meaning, whereas reference has to do with things. Keith donnellan, joseph almog, and paolo leonardi function is the referential use of definite description, in which the speaker uses it to refer to something.
Donnellan on the referentialatributive distinction and russells. Donnellan references a disagreement between russell and strawson about the correct way to understand definite descriptions, that is constructions that might have the form the f. Written in response to the work of bertrand russell and p. He stayed on at cornell, earning a master s and a phd in 1961. Definite descriptions are ambiguous analysis oxford. What would secure us necessary identity of reference. Logic and pragmatics of attributive and referential. Keith donnellan is one of the major figures in 20th century philosophy of language and mind, a key member of the highly influential group that altered the course of philosophy of language and mind around 1970. He also taught at there for several years before moving to ucla in 1970, where he is currently emeritus professor of philosophy. Furthermore, on russells view the type of expression that comes closest to performing the function of the referential use of definite descriptions turns out, as one might suspect, to be a. Pdf demonstrative reference and definite descriptions.
Donnellan contributed to the philosophy of language, most notably to the analysis of proper names and definite descriptions. Strawson has shown russells theory of definite descriptions. In using a definite description referentially the spea we use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. Attendees of reference and definite descriptions, by keith donnellan on sunday, april 8, 2018 in san francisco, ca. Keith donnellan, reference and definite descriptions. Russellianism and referential uses of descriptions. The central contribution of this paper is the distinction between attributive and referential uses of descriptions. Later in the chapter wettstein traces the evolving descriptions of the cognitive requirement for reference through donnellan s work, beginning with the relatively unanalyzed notion of having in mind in reference and definite descriptions and carrying through to the more intentionbased and historicallybased formulations of donnellan s later. Keith donnellan 1966 contrasted two uses of definite descriptions, the referential and the attributive.
It is also known as russells theory of descriptions commonly abbreviated as rtd. The distinction between referential and attributive uses. If their arguments are correct, then a completesemantic theory for sentences that containdefinite descriptions will have to provide. The first function is the referential use of definite description, in which the speaker uses it to refer to something. The passage you quote is from keith donnellans paper, reference and definite descriptions. Strawson in the area of definite descriptions, the essay develops a distinction between the referential use and the attributive use of a definite description. Reference and definite descriptions oxford scholarship. One could say if aristotle had died young, he would never have taught alexander the great. Keith donnellan according to keith donnellan, there are two distinct ways we may use a definite description such as the current emperor of germany is gray, and thus makes his distinction between the referential and the attributive use of a definite description. Speakers reference and semantic reference saul kripke 1 am going to discuss some issues inspired by a wellknown paper of keith donnellan, reference and definite descriptions, but the interestto meof the contrast mentioned in my title goes beyond donnellan s paper. Definite descriptions, i shall argue, have two possible functions. Proper names and identifying descriptions springerlink. Expressions cannot be used to mention, or to refer to, anything, any more than.
I will call it the principle of identifying descriptions. We can ask how a definite description functions in a sentence. Reference and definite descriptions has been one of donnellan s most influential essays. He criticized bertrand russells theory of definite descriptions for. Reference and definite descriptions by keith donnellan3. What is the connection between proper names and definite descriptions. The relation between reference and definite descriptions and kripkes critique in speakers reference and semantic reference is a curious one. The two uses differ in how they contribute to the truth conditions of an utterance containing them. A speaker who uses a definite description referentially in an assertion uses the. Johns in the area of definite descriptions, the essay develops a distinction between the referential use and the attributive use of a definite. Essays on reference, language, and mind keith donnellan, edited by joseph almog, and paolo leonardi. Donnellan as denoting and the referential use of definite descriptions is not recognized on russells view. The task for philosophers of language now is the thorny.
Synthese library monographs on epistemology, logic, methodology, philosophy of science, sociology of science and of knowledge, and on the mathematical methods of social and behavioral sciences, vol 40. He argued that definite descriptions can be used in at least two different ways. However, that this is the correct reading of kripkes subtle and complex paper is dubious. Kripke has been read as vindicating russells theory of definite descriptions against donnellan s critique. He spent most of his career at ucla but taught, before that, at cornell, where he also earned his phd. Keith donnellan, joseph almog, and paolo leonardi function is the referential use of definite description, in which the speaker uses it to refer. This disjunction is in their minds in the sense that they can deliver the answer for each possible world when it is described in sufficient detail, but it is implicit in the sense that the pattern that brings the various disjuncts together as part of the, possibly highly complex, disjunction may be one.
In short, russell argued that the syntactic form of descriptions phrases that took the form of the aardvark and an aardvark is misleading, as it does not correlate their. Strawson has shown russells theory of definite descriptions philosophy essay. In reference and definite descriptions, keith donnellan claimed that bertrand russell and peter strawson ignored referential uses of definite descriptions. A meetup event from the san francisco philosophy group, a. Russells theory is an application of the attributive use of definite description in speech acts, whilst strawsons argument against russell is on the basis of him not recognising the referential role of definite descriptions, however strawson neglects the attributive use and as such his theory is similarly problematic.
Strawson in the area of definite descriptions, the essay develops a distinction between the referential. Publishes keith donnellan s influential essays for the first time in book form. A causal theory of reference is a theory of how terms acquire specific referents. The intense debate that followed donnellan s paper focused on the contrast between donnellan and. I will then finally attempt to engage in keith donnellans solution to consider. Keith donnellan, emeritus of ucla, is one of the major figures in 20th century philosophy of. A definite description is a denoting phrase in the form of the x where x is a nounphrase or a singular common noun. The theory of descriptions is the philosopher bertrand russells most significant contribution to the philosophy of language. Includes an introduction by joseph almog that explains the signficance and relevance of the essays for contemporary philosophy.
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