Thoughts & Ways of Thinking
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Reference and Definite Descriptions1
Philosophical Review !"#"$"%&"'(%)'*"#+%+,"'*"-&$+.,+/%- 01,2/$3-45'6"+,2'78'*/%%"99(% 7/1$&"5':2"';2+9/-/.2+&(9'!"<+"=>'?/98'@A>'B/8'C'3D198>'EFGG4>'..8'HIEJCKL ;1M9+-2")'MN5'*1O"'P%+<"$-+,N';$"--'/%'M"2(9#'/#';2+9/-/.2+&(9'!"<+"= 7,(M9"'P!Q5'http://www.jstor.org/stable/2183143 0&&"--")5'KARKIRHKEK'EA5HC Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=duke. Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Duke University Press and Philosophical Review are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Philosophical Review. http://www.jstor.org REFERENCE AND DEFINITE DESCRIPTIONS1 I DEFINITE descriptions, I shall argue, have two possible func- tions. -
Peter Thomas Geach, 1916–2013
PETER GEACH Peter Thomas Geach 1916–2013 PETER GEACH was born on 29 March 1916 at 41, Royal Avenue, Chelsea. He was the son of George Hender Geach, a Cambridge graduate working in the Indian Educational Service (IES), who later taught philosophy at Lahore. George Geach was married to Eleonore Sgnonina, the daughter of a Polish civil engineer who had emigrated to England. The marriage was not a happy one: after a brief period in India Eleonore returned to England to give birth and never returned to her husband. Peter Geach’s first few years were spent in the house of his Polish grandparents in Cardiff, but at the age of four his father had him made the ward of a former nanny of his own, an elderly nonconformist lady named Miss Tarr. When Peter’s mother tried to visit him, Miss Tarr warned him that a dangerous mad woman was coming, so that he cowered away from her when she tried to embrace him. As she departed she threw a brick through a window, and from that point there was no further contact between mother and son. When he was eight years old he became a boarder at Llandaff Cathedral School. Soon afterwards his father was invalided out of the IES and took charge of his education. To the surprise of his Llandaff housemaster, Peter won a scholarship to Clifton College, Bristol. Geach père had learnt moral sciences at Trinity College Cambridge from Bertrand Russell and G. E. Moore, and he inducted his son into the delights of philosophy from an early age. -
Gottlob Frege Patricia A
Gottlob Frege Patricia A. Blanchette This is the penultimate version of the essay whose final version appears in the Oxford Handbook of Nineteenth-Century German Philosophy, M. Forster and K. Gjesdal (eds), Oxford University Press 2015, pp 207-227 Abstract Gottlob Frege (1848-1925) made significant contributions to both pure mathematics and philosophy. His most important technical contribution, of both mathematical and philosophical significance, is the introduction of a formal system of quantified logic. His work of a more purely- philosophical kind includes the articulation and persuasive defense of anti-psychologism in mathematics and logic, the rigorous pursuit of the thesis that arithmetic is reducible to logic, and the introduction of the distinction between sense and reference in the philosophy of language. Frege’s work has gone on to influence contemporary work across a broad spectrum, including the philosophy of mathematics and logic, the philosophy of language, and the philosophy of mind. This essay describes the historical development of Frege’s central views, and the connections between those views. Introduction Friedrich Ludwig Gottlob Frege was born on November 8, 1848 in the Hanseatic town of Wismar. He was educated in mathematics at the University of Jena and at the University of Göttingen, from which latter he received his doctorate in 1873. He defended his Habilitation the next year in Jena, and took up a position immediately at the University of Jena. Here he spent his entire academic career, lecturing in mathematics and logic, retiring in 1918. His death came on July 26, 1925 in the nearby town of Bad Kleinen.1 Frege is best known for three significant contributions to philosophy. -
Gottlob Frege: on Sense and Reference Professor Jeeloo Liu [Introduction]
Phil/Ling 375: Meaning and Mind [Handout #13] Gottlob Frege: On Sense and Reference Professor JeeLoo Liu [Introduction] I. Language and the World ___ How does language depict reality? Does reality have the same structure as the structure of language? For instance, the basic linguistic structure is a subject and a predicate, and the basic structure of the world is a particular and a universal (e.g. “Socrates is wise”). The subject usually is something of the world and we describe some property it has or does not have. A is F is true is A is really F, is false when A is not F. II. Different Elements of Language Singular terms: Terms that designate particular things Proper names Indexicals: now, today, here, I… Demonstratives: that, this… Pronouns (singular): he, she,… Definite descriptions (the so-and-so): Indefinite (singular) descriptions (a so-and-so) General terms: Terms that designate a kind of things or a certain property Mass nouns ___ natural kind terms (‘water,’ ‘tiger,’ ‘lemon’) ___ non-natural kind terms (‘bachelor’, ‘contract,’ ‘chair’) Adjectives (predicates): colors, shapes, etc. III. Traditional Theories of Meaning Prior to Frege [A] The Ideational Theory ___ The meaning of a linguistic expression is the speaker’s idea that is associated with the expression. [B] Mill’s Theory [the Object Theory] ___ The meaning of a singular term is the thing designated by that term; ___ the meaning of a name is just what the name stands for; the name does not have any other meaning e.g. ‘Socrates’ means Socrates e.g. ‘Dartmouth’ e.g. -
PETER Geach's Views of Relative Identity, Together With
SOME RADICAL CONSEQUENCES OF GEACH'S LOGICAL THEORIES By jAMES CAIN ETER Geach's views of relative identity, together with his Paccount of proper names and quantifiers, 1 while presenting what I believe is an inwardly coherent and consistent account, presents us with radical consequences regarding what arguments are to be accepted as valid. For example, consider the argument: ( 1) All men are mortal Fido is a man Thus, Fido is mortal in which 'Fido' names a dog. While this would normally be thought to be a valid argument with a false premise, we shall see that on Geach's theories it turns out to be invalid. In fact for every form of general categorical syllogism we can produce an argument of that form which on Geach's theories turns out invalid. 1 I will only be concerned with the theory of restricted quantifiers worked out in the main body of Reference and Generality, third edition {Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1980), not with either his theory of unrestricted quantifiers or the method of interpreting restricted quantifiers mentioned in the appendix to Reference and Generality. 84 ANALYSIS Let us see how this situation arises. We first look briefly at Geach's semantics. According to Geach every proper name is associ ated with a criterion of identity which could be expressed using a substantival term; e.g., 'Fido' is, let's say, associated with the criterion of identity given by 'same dog': this can be expressed by saying that 'Fido' is a name for a dog (we may go on to say that it is a name of a dog if it is non-empty; Reference and Generality p. -
Ludwig.Wittgenstein.-.Philosophical.Investigations.Pdf
PHILOSOPHICAL INVESTIGATIONS By LUDWIG WITTGENSTEIN Translated by G. E. M. ANSCOMBE BASIL BLACKWELL TRANSLATOR'S NOTE Copyright © Basil Blackwell Ltd 1958 MY acknowledgments are due to the following, who either checked First published 1953 Second edition 1958 the translation or allowed me to consult them about German and Reprint of English text alone 1963 Austrian usage or read the translation through and helped me to Third edition of English and German text with index 1967 improve the English: Mr. R. Rhees, Professor G. H. von Wright, Reprint of English text with index 1968, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, Mr. P. Geach, Mr. G. Kreisel, Miss L. Labowsky, Mr. D. Paul, Miss I. 1981, 1986 Murdoch. Basil Blackwell Ltd 108 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1JF, UK All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purposes of criticism and review, no part of this publication may be NOTE TO SECOND EDITION reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or THE text has been revised for the new edition. A large number of otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. small changes have been made in the English text. The following passages have been significantly altered: Except in the United States of America, this book is sold to the In Part I: §§ 108, 109, 116, 189, 193, 251, 284, 352, 360, 393,418, condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re- 426, 442, 456, 493, 520, 556, 582, 591, 644, 690, 692. -
The Theory of Descriptions 1. Bertrand Russell (1872-1970): Mathematician, Logician, and Philosopher
Louis deRosset { Spring 2019 Russell: The Theory of Descriptions 1. Bertrand Russell (1872-1970): mathematician, logician, and philosopher. He's one of the founders of analytic philosophy. \On Denoting" is a founding document of analytic philosophy. It is a paradigm of philosophical analysis. An analysis of a concept/phenomenon c: a recipe for eliminating c-vocabulary from our theories which still captures all of the facts the c-vocabulary targets. FOR EXAMPLE: \The Name View Analysis of Identity." 2. Russell's target: Denoting Phrases By a \denoting phrase" I mean a phrase such as any one of the following: a man, some man, any man, every man, all men, the present King of England, the present King of France, the centre of mass of the Solar System at the first instant of the twentieth century, the revolution of the earth round the sun, the revolution of the sun round the earth. (479) Includes: • universals: \all F 's" (\each"/\every") • existentials: \some F " (\at least one") • indefinite descriptions: \an F " • definite descriptions: \the F " Later additions: • negative existentials: \no F 's" (480) • Genitives: \my F " (\your"/\their"/\Joe's"/etc.) (484) • Empty Proper Names: \Apollo", \Hamlet", etc. (491) Russell proposes to analyze denoting phrases. 3. Why Analyze Denoting Phrases? Russell's Project: The distinction between acquaintance and knowledge about is the distinction between the things we have presentation of, and the things we only reach by means of denoting phrases. [. ] In perception we have acquaintance with the objects of perception, and in thought we have acquaintance with objects of a more abstract logical character; but we do not necessarily have acquaintance with the objects denoted by phrases composed of words with whose meanings we are ac- quainted. -
Educational Rights and the Roles of Virtues, Perfectionism, and Cultural Progress
The Law of Education: Educational Rights and the Roles of Virtues, Perfectionism, and Cultural Progress R. GEORGE WRIGHT* I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 385 II. EDUCATION: PURPOSES, RECENT OUTCOMES, AND LEGAL MECHANISMS FOR REFORM ................................................................ 391 A. EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AND RIGHTS LANGUAGE ...................... 391 B. SOME RECENT GROUNDS FOR CONCERN IN FULFILLING EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ............................................................. 393 C. THE BROAD RANGE OF AVAILABLE TECHNIQUES FOR THE LEGAL REFORM OF EDUCATION ............................................................... 395 III. SOME LINKAGES BETWEEN EDUCATION AND THE BASIC VIRTUES, PERFECTIONISM, AND CULTURAL PROGRESS ..................................... 397 IV. VIRTUES AND THEIR LEGITIMATE PROMOTION THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM ...................................................................... 401 V. PERFECTIONISM AND ITS LEGITIMATE PROMOTION THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM ...................................................................... 410 VI. CULTURAL PROGRESS OVER TIME AND ITS LEGITIMATE PROMOTION THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM .............................................. 417 VII. CONCLUSION: EDUCATION LAW AS RIGHTS-CENTERED AND AS THE PURSUIT OF WORTHY VALUES AND GOALS: THE EXAMPLE OF HORNE V. FLORES ............................................................................................ 431 I. INTRODUCTION The law of education -
A Bibliography of Works on Reflexivity
A bibliography of works on reflexivity The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters Citation Peter Suber, A bibliography of works on reflexivity, in Self- Reference: Reflections on Reflexivity 259-362 (Peter Suber and Steven J. Bartlett 1987). Citable link http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:4725021 Terms of Use This article was downloaded from Harvard University’s DASH repository, and is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http:// nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of- use#LAA Peter Suber A Bibliography of \ \'orks on Reflexivity "I don't have to quote anybody else to say what I could say for myself." --Anon. Section One: Introduction . ·:Reflexivity" is the generic name for all kinds and species of CJrcu~an.ty. It includes the self-reference of signs, the self-appplication of pnn~J_Ples and predicates. the self-justification and self-refutation of propositiOns and inferences the self-fulfillment and self-falsification of pre?!ctions, the self-creati~n and self-destruction of logical and legal Cntilie~, the self-augmentation and self-limitation of powers, circular reasonmg, circular causation. cvclic and spiral recurrence, feedback ?ste~s, mutu~li.ty, recipr~city: and organic. fonn. .It includes the sallaciOus, the VICious, the tnvial, and the quesuon beggmg, but also the ound, the benign, the useful and the inescapable. It ranges from the Pro. sa1c· to the numinous, from' the paradoxical to the self-evident, from ~Ience to religion. -
PHI 565-Russell
Philosophy 565: Philosophy of Language Prof. Clare Batty Russell, “On Denoting” 1. More Philosophical Jargon definite description: a singular noun phrase which applies to exactly one person, often beginning with the definite article: e.g., ‘the funniest woman in Canada’, the present King of France’. According to Russell, a phrase is denoting solely “in virtue of its form”. This is to say, the phrase needn’t actually denote in order to be a denoting phrase. Law of the Excluded Middle: By the law of the excluded middle, either ‘A is B’ or ‘A is not B’ must be true. 2. Frege and Russell We now know that Frege is committed to: (F3) Ordinary proper names and definite descriptions are singular terms. (F4) Ordinary proper names and definite descriptions all have sense (and perhaps reference). (ST1) The business of a singular term is to refer to an object. (ST2) A sentence containing a singular term has no truth-value if there is no object corresponding to that singular term. Russell’s focus is on definite descriptions. Not under discussion at this point: proper names (e.g. ‘Clare’, ‘Kentucky’, etc.) Russell denies (F3) and, as a result (he claims), (F4). Like Frege, Russell thinks that his alternative view can deal with certain problems. “The evidence for [my] theory is derived from difficulties which seem unavoidable if we regard denoting phrases as standing for genuine constituents of the propositions in whose verbal expressions they occur." We have seen some of these before: (P1) Frege’s Puzzle About Identity (P2) Substitutivity (P3) Apparent Reference to Non-Existents And some more: (P4) Law of the Excluded Middle (LEM) By the LEM, either (S1) ‘The King of France is bald’ or (S2) ‘The King of France is not bald’ had better be true. -
Peter Geach's Ethics
July 1, 2018 Grammar and Function: Peter Geach's Ethics Katharina Nieswandt Pre-print, to appear in: Martin Hähnel (ed.) (forthcoming) Aristotelian Naturalism: A Research Companion. Springer: Dordrecht. A German version of this paper appeared as: Katharina Nieswandt (2017): “Grammatik und Funktion: Peter Geach.” In: Martin Hähnel (ed.): Der Aristotelische Naturalismus: Ein Handbuch. Metzler: Stuttgart,163-174. ISBN: 978-3-476-04332-0 (Hardcover). DOI: 10.1007/978-3-476-04333-7. Table of Contents Introduction.............................................................................................................................................1 Short Biography......................................................................................................................................2 The Grammar of Moral Expressions such as “Good” or “Should”.............................................3 The Frege-Geach Problem....................................................................................................................6 The Supposed “Naturalistic Fallacy”..................................................................................................8 Natural Teleology...................................................................................................................................9 The Role of the Virtues in Moral Life..............................................................................................10 Annotated Bibliography......................................................................................................................11 -
Does 2 + 3 = 5? : in Defense of a Near Absurdity
This is a repository copy of Does 2 + 3 = 5? : In Defense of a Near Absurdity. White Rose Research Online URL for this paper: https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/127022/ Version: Accepted Version Article: Leng, Mary Catherine orcid.org/0000-0001-9936-5453 (2018) Does 2 + 3 = 5? : In Defense of a Near Absurdity. The Mathematical Intelligencer. ISSN 1866-7414 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00283-017-9752-8 Reuse Items deposited in White Rose Research Online are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved unless indicated otherwise. They may be downloaded and/or printed for private study, or other acts as permitted by national copyright laws. The publisher or other rights holders may allow further reproduction and re-use of the full text version. This is indicated by the licence information on the White Rose Research Online record for the item. Takedown If you consider content in White Rose Research Online to be in breach of UK law, please notify us by emailing [email protected] including the URL of the record and the reason for the withdrawal request. [email protected] https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/ Does 2 + 3 = 5? In defence of a near absurdity1 Mary Leng (Department of Philosophy, University of York) James Robert Brown asks, “Is anyone really agnostic about 2 + 3 = 5, and willing only to give assent to PA 2 + 3 = 5?” (where PA stands for the Peano axioms for arithmetic). In fact Brown should qualify his ‘anyone’ with ‘anyone not already hopelessly corrupted by philosophy’, since, as he knows full well, there are plenty of so-called nominalist philosophers – myself included – who, wishing to avoid commitment to abstract (that is, non-spatiotemporal, acausal, mind- and language- independent) objects, take precisely this attitude to mathematical claims.