Philosophy Dictionary of Arguments

Home Screenshot Tabelle Begriffe

 
Description theory: the thesis according to which the meaning of expressions corresponds to the description of the respective objects. Russell's theory of descriptions is a philosophical theory of how to understand definite descriptions, such as "the tallest man in the world." Russell argued that definite descriptions make two claims about the world there exists an object that satisfies the description, and there is only one object that satisfies the description.
_____________
Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments.

 
Author Concept Summary/Quotes Sources

Bertrand Russell on Description Theory - Dictionary of Arguments

Hintikka I 165
Descriptions/Russell/Hintikka:
Definition primary description: for them, the substitutability of identity (SI) applies.
Definition secondary description: for them the substitutability of identity (SI) fails.
I 166
E.g. Russell: two readings:
(1) George IV did not know whether Scott was the author of Waverley.
Description/Logical Form/Russell/Hintikka: "The Author of Waverley": (ix) A (x)
Primary: the description has the following force:

(2) (Ex)[A(x)&(y)A(y) > y = x) & George IV knew that (Scott = x).
((s) notation: the quantifier is here always a normal existence quantifier, mirrored E).
That is, the quantifier has maximum range in the primary description.
More likely, however, is the second reading:
Secondary:

(3) ~ George IV knew that (Ex)[A(x) & (y) > y = x & (Scott = x)].
((s) narrow range)
Range/HintikkaVsRussell: he did not know that there is a third possibility for the range of a quantifier ((s) "medium range"/Kripke).

(4) ~ (Ex) [A(x) & (y)(A (y)> y = x) & George IV knew that (Scott = x)].


_____________
Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments
The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition.

Russell I
B. Russell/A.N. Whitehead
Principia Mathematica Frankfurt 1986

Russell II
B. Russell
The ABC of Relativity, London 1958, 1969
German Edition:
Das ABC der Relativitätstheorie Frankfurt 1989

Russell IV
B. Russell
The Problems of Philosophy, Oxford 1912
German Edition:
Probleme der Philosophie Frankfurt 1967

Russell VI
B. Russell
"The Philosophy of Logical Atomism", in: B. Russell, Logic and KNowledge, ed. R. Ch. Marsh, London 1956, pp. 200-202
German Edition:
Die Philosophie des logischen Atomismus
In
Eigennamen, U. Wolf (Hg), Frankfurt 1993

Russell VII
B. Russell
On the Nature of Truth and Falsehood, in: B. Russell, The Problems of Philosophy, Oxford 1912 - Dt. "Wahrheit und Falschheit"
In
Wahrheitstheorien, G. Skirbekk (Hg), Frankfurt 1996

Hintikka I
Jaakko Hintikka
Merrill B. Hintikka
Investigating Wittgenstein
German Edition:
Untersuchungen zu Wittgenstein Frankfurt 1996

Hintikka II
Jaakko Hintikka
Merrill B. Hintikka
The Logic of Epistemology and the Epistemology of Logic Dordrecht 1989


Send Link
> Counter arguments against Russell
> Counter arguments in relation to Description Theory

Authors A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   Y   Z  


Concepts A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   Z  



Ed. Martin Schulz, access date 2024-04-20
Legal Notice   Contact   Data protection declaration