Direct Reference: From Language to Thought

by François Recanati

In this book Professor Recanati sets out to defend and systematize the much-discussed 'theory of Direct Reference', according to which the contribution made by a referential term (e.g. a proper name or demonstrative) to the proposition expressed by the sentence where it occurs is its reference. To deal with the objections traditionally levelled against the theory he puts forward a general account of de re thoughts and their communication which blends insights from both the Fregean and the Russellian traditions. In the second part of the book recent advances in pragmatics are presented and used to shed light on the referential/attributive distinction (with respect to both definite descriptions and indexicals) and belief reports. New treatments of some of the major topics in the philosophy of mind and language are offered along the way.

Genres: Philosophy

420 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

François Recanati is a French analytic philosopher and research fellow at the College de France, and at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Many of his works focus on the philosophy of language and mind.