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UNIVERSITY of CALGARY Bertrand Russell's Theory of Definite UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Bertrand Russell’s Theory of Definite Descriptions: an Examination by Mostofa Nazmul Mansur A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY CALGARY, ALBERTA DECEMBER, 2012 © Mostofa Nazmul Mansur 2012 Abstract Despite its enormous popularity, Russell’s theory of definite descriptions has received various criticisms. Two of the most important objections against this theory are those arising from the Argument from Incompleteness and the Argument from Donnellan’s Distinction. According to the former although a speaker may say something true by assertively uttering a sentence containing an incomplete description , on the Russellian analysis such a sentence expresses a false proposition; so, Russell’s theory cannot adequately deal with such sentences. According to the latter objection a descriptive sentence is actually ambiguous—it expresses a general proposition when the description contained in it is used attributively, and a singular proposition when the description in question is used referentially; Russell’s theory is inadequate as it fails to capture this ambiguity and offers an analysis according to which a descriptive sentence expresses only a general proposition. These objections are examined in the present dissertation. It is shown here that these objections arise from: (i) ignoring the distinction between the meaning of a sentence and the assertions made by using it, (ii) the failure to distinguish between the semantic meaning of a sentence and the pragmatic meaning with which it is used on a particular occasion. To make the distinction mentioned in (i), a significant part of Scott Soames’ theory concerning meaning and assertions has been adopted in this dissertation; and, to make the distinction mentioned in (ii), a test, namely the cancellability test, and two Distinguishing Criteria, namely DC-1 and DC-2, have been developed here. It has been argued here that if we properly make the relevant distinctions, then we will find that: (a) the phenomenon cited by the Argument from Incompleteness can be well explained keeping the Russellian analysis of descriptive sentences intact, (b) the phenomenon arising from the Argument from Donnellan’s Distinction raises an issue of pragmatics and is irrelevant to Russell’s semantic analysis of descriptive sentences. So, none of the above criticisms poses a genuine threat to Russell’s theory of definite descriptions; his theory actually provides, to a large extent, a correct semantic analysis of descriptive sentences. ii Acknowledgements I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Ali Kazmi for his academic support and guidance in this research project. His influence can be found on every page of this dissertation. Actually, without his insightful suggestions, attention to details, emphasis on clarity of arguments, feedbacks and guidance in general it would become an impossible task for me to write a dissertation on Russell’s theory of descriptions. Working with Dr. Kazmi is one of the most fruitful intellectual activities in my whole academic career. Thanks are also extended to the supervisory committee members, Dr. Nicole Wyatt and Professor Richard Zach. Many of the ideas developed and defended in this dissertation are learned from my conversations with Dr. Wyatt. Suggestions and comments that are time to time made by Prof. Zack have been found valuable. I am also grateful to Professor Elizabeth Ritter and Professor Bernard Linsky for having agreed to be the internal-external and external examiners, respectively, in my oral examination. I would also like to thank Professor Ishtiyaque Haji (Director of Graduate Studies) for his helpful advice and constant support. I treasure the attention he has given me. I am thankful to all faculties and graduate students of the Department of Philosophy (U of C). Over the years, conversations with them have also had an enormous impact on my thought and work. I am also thankful to Merlette Schnell (Department Manager) and Denise Retzlaff (Graduate Program Administrator) for their generous assistance. I take the opportunity to thank my MA-thesis supervisor Dr. Arthur Sullivan (Memorial University of Newfoundland) who, though not directly involved in my PhD program at U of C, has encouraged me a lot to pursue my PhD research in Canada. I also thank my friends and colleagues of Jahangirnagar University (Bangladesh); they are always by my side even though we are physically apart. A number of Bangladeshi people who live in Calgary helped me in my everyday living in the city. I need to particularly mention Humayun Chowdhury (and his family), Subrata Biswas (and his family) and Padma Polash Paul (and his family) for their help. I thank them and all other of Bangladeshi community in Calgary. iii My brothers, Mostofa Kamrul Mansur, Mostofa Joglul Mansur, Mostofa Saiful Mansur and their families have always encouraged me to pursue my research. They have been taking care of my family that I left behind. I am grateful for everything they have been doing for me. I attempt to express my gratitude to my wife Tasmin Irfan Keya; but I find that my language is so limited that it cannot express what is to be expressed. Keya allowed me—and, in fact, encouraged me—to come here in Canada for my higher study taking all family-problems and responsibilities (responsibilities that include the responsibility of protecting and upbringing our autistic son) on her shoulder. I think the only reason why she encouraged me to come here was that she could read my mind and wanted me to do what I wanted to do. She has always been so supportive that I am compelled to say that there may be no possible world in which I exist and have a partner who is more supportive than she is in the actual world. By my absence from my family I have badly deprived our only child Raiyan M. Mansur of the company of his father. Let me say “sorry” to him here, although saying “sorry” is not enough for me to be excused. During my research I have lost both of my parents. They encouraged me a lot to come to Canada and pursue my PhD study here; they wanted to see me to have a PhD Degree. Unfortunately, they are no more to see that I have completed writing my dissertation for PhD Degree. I dedicate this dissertation to the memory of my parents. iv Dedication To the memory of my parents Mansur-Ur-Rahaman (1930-2011) Rabeya Akhtar (1936-2008) v Table of Contents Abstract .............................................................................................................................. ii Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... iii Dedication .......................................................................................................................... v Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. vi Concise List of Sentences Used in Examples .................................................................. vii CHAPTER ONE: Russell’s Theory of Definite Descriptions: the Theory and Its Use ............................. 1 CHAPTER TWO: Two Major Objections: the Argument from Incompleteness and the Argument from Donnellan’s Distinction ....................................................... 40 CHAPTER THREE: Responses to the Argument from Incompleteness ...................................................... 63 CHAPTER FOUR: Responses to the Argument from Donnellan’s Distinction ...................................... 100 CHAPTER FIVE: Meaning and Assertion ................................................................................................ 165 Bibliography .................................................................................................................. 197 vi Concise List of Sentences Used in Examples (1) The present queen of England is a scholar (2) The present king of France is bald. (2a) The present king of France is not bald. (2b) The king of France in 1905 is bald. (3) The round square is a round square. (4) The existent round square is an existent round square. (5) Odysseus was set ashore at Ithaca while sound asleep. (6) The round square does not exist (7) George IV wishes to know whether Scott is the author of Waverley. (8) Scott is the author of Waverley. (9) George IV wishes to know whether Scott is Scott. (10) The word “Cicero” begins with the third letter of English alphabet. (11) Cicero is identical with Tully. (12) The word “Tully” begins with the third letter of English alphabet. (13) The teacher of Alexander is Aristotle. (13a) The teacher of Alexander is such that it is true of him that he is Aristotle. (14) The author of Principia Mathematica is such that it is true of him that he is Bertrand Russell. (14a) The author of Principia Mathematica is Bertrand Russell. (15) It is true of the author of Waverley that George IV wishes to know whether Scott is him. (16) It is true of Scott that George IV wishes to know whether Scott is him. (17) ( ) (18) ( ) (19) The father of Charles II was executed. (19a) Exactly one person begat Charles II, and whoever begat Charles II was executed. (19b) ( ) ( ( )( )) ) (20) The father of Charles II was not executed. vii (20a) Exactly one person begat Charles II, and whoever begat Charles II was not executed. (20b) ( ) ( ( )( )) (20c) It is not the case that exactly one person begat Charles II, and
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