Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Frege's distinction between sense and reference shows that a term referring to multiple individuals must have determinate sense, which a purely produced sign lacks.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Sense and reference can diverge: indexicals like 'I' have determinate sense yet reference depends on context, not sense alone.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Causal-historical accounts of reference bypass sense: names refer via causal chains, not determinate conceptual content of the sign.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Vagueness permits reference: terms with indeterminate sense (borderline cases) still successfully refer to multiple determinate individuals.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Sense determines reference: without determinate sense, a term cannot reliably pick out the same referents across contexts.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Purely produced signs lack conventional meaning: random symbol generation cannot establish the stable sense required for reference.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Multiple reference requires identity conditions: terms referring to multiple individuals must have criteria distinguishing which individuals qualify.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.