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    A complete theory of how expressions contribute to truth-... — Carmelics
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    Supports→Reference alone does not explain the contribution that expressions make to the determination of the truth-value of all sentences in which they occur.

    A complete theory of how expressions contribute to truth-conditions must account for cognitive significance, which reference alone systematically fails to capture.

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    Reasons For

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    • 1.Frege's puzzle shows 'Morning Star' and 'Evening Star' have identical reference but different cognitive significance for competent speakers.
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    • 2.Two expressions can fix the same referent via different modes of presentation, which truth-conditions alone cannot distinguish.
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    • 3.A complete theory must explain why 'Water is H2O' is informative while 'Water is water' is trivial, despite identical reference.
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    Reasons Against

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    • 1.Cognitive significance reflects speaker psychology and conceptual competence, not semantic content that determines truth-conditions.
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    • 2.A theory of truth-conditions can remain complete by explaining reference and composition; cognitive significance is a separate explanatory domain.
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    • 3.Indexicals like 'I' and 'now' show reference alone suffices for truth-conditions despite variable cognitive significance across speakers.
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    Related

    A complete theory must explain why 'Water is H2O' is informative while 'Water is...A theory of truth-conditions can remain complete by explaining reference and com...Cognitive significance reflects speaker psychology and conceptual competence, no...Frege's puzzle shows 'Morning Star' and 'Evening Star' have identical reference ...
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    Indexicals like 'I' and 'now' show reference alone suffices for truth-conditions...Reference alone does not explain the contribution that expressions make to the d...Two expressions can fix the same referent via different modes of presentation, w...

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    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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