Lexical meaning and propositional representation : an investigation into the problem of the unity of the proposition
In this thesis, I offer a novel account of how best to reorient our semantic and conceptual inquiries into lexical meaning and propositional representation. I achieve this by means of a partly historical investigation into the problem of the unity of the proposition; this is the problem of distinguishing a proposition - the bearer of truth, the complex object or content of a belief or other propositional attitude, and the meaning of a true/false statement - from an âaggregateâ of its constituent parts. In chapter 1, I assess Bertrand Russellâs first attempt at a solution, and give a detailed account of why his proposed analysis of a proposition and the sentence expressing it generates a viciously regressive analysis. In chapter 2, I assess Fregeâs approach to the problem, and show that he offers a fundamental insight by way of his approach to analysis which draws an absolute distinction between functions and their argument, and treats concepts as functions to truth-values. Frege has, of course, influenced many contemporary philosophers of language, notably Dummett and Davidson, who have argued that Fregeâs insights offer us a lens thorough which to understand the nature of predication in natural
Summers, Simon
Lexical meaning and propositional representation : an investigation into the problem of the unity of the proposition. In this thesis, I offer a novel account of how best to reorient our semantic and conceptual inquiries into lexical meaning and propositional representation. I achieve this by means of a partly historical investigation into the problem of the unity of the proposition; this is the problem of distinguishing a proposition - the bearer of truth, the complex object or content of a belief or other propositional attitude, and the meaning of a true/false statement - from an âaggregateâ of its constituent parts. In chapter 1, I assess Bertrand Russellâs first attempt at a solution, and give a detailed account of why his proposed analysis of a proposition and the sentence expressing it generates a viciously regressive analysis. In chapter 2, I assess Fregeâs approach to the problem, and show that he offers a fundamental insight by way of his approach to analysis which draws an absolute distinction between functions and their argument, and treats concepts as functions to truth-values. Frege has, of course, influenced many contemporary philosophers of language, notably Dummett and Davidson, who have argued that Fregeâs insights offer us a lens thorough which to understand the nature of predication in natural
lexical meaning propositional representation investigation problem unity proposition offer_novel account best semantic conceptual inquiry lexical mean propositional representation achieve mean partly historical investigation problem unity proposition problem distinguish proposition bearer truth complex object content belief propositional_attitude mean true_false statement aggregate constituent_part ass russell first_attempt solution give_detailed account propose analysis proposition sentence express generates regressive analysis assess frege problem show offer fundamental_insight way analysis draw absolute distinction function argument treat concepts function truth_values frege course influence many_contemporary philosopher language notably dummett davidson argue frege insight_offer lens thorough nature predication natural