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    The idea of reference-level propositions faces a reductio... — Carmelics
    Home/Philosophy of Language
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    The idea of reference-level propositions faces a reductio ad absurdum

    Philosophy of Language
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    2 reasons for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
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    • 1.On Russell's multiple-relation theory, propositional unity requires a relating relation that binds constituents, but reference-level facts lack this structure.
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    • 2.If reference-level propositions just are facts, then Frege's distinction between a thought's being true and its merely having a truth-value collapses, undermining the very notion of propositional content.
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    • 3.Identity theorists like McDowell who equate true propositions with facts cannot account for the asymmetry between grasping a proposition and perceiving a fact without reintroducing a sense/reference gap.
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    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Vision's point that propositions must be abstract, mind-independent entities conflicts with reference-level entities being concrete, spatiotemporally located states of affairs.
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    • 2.If true propositions are identical to facts at the reference level, then, per Dodd's critique, the unity of a proposition must derive from the unity of the fact—but fact-unity is itself philosophically unexplained, generating a vicious regress.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
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    • 1.False propositions in re could not be unities
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    • 2.Unifying a proposition at the level of reference would require making it true
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    • 3.If there cannot be false reference-level propositions, there cannot be true ones either
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    Topics

    Philosophy of LanguageTruth & Knowledge

    Related

    False propositions in re could not be unitiesIdentity theorists like McDowell who equate true propositions with facts cannot ...If reference-level propositions just are facts, then Frege's distinction between...If there cannot be false reference-level propositions, there cannot be true ones...
    +4 moreShow less
    If true propositions are identical to facts at the reference level, then, per Do...On Russell's multiple-relation theory, propositional unity requires a relating r...Unifying a proposition at the level of reference would require making it trueVision's point that propositions must be abstract, mind-independent entities con...

    Similar

    Unifying a proposition at the level of reference would require making ...85%If there cannot be false reference-level propositions, there cannot be...83%Identity theorists are uncomfortable with reference-level propositions82%If reference-level propositions existed, they would have to be constru...82%

    Source

    AI-extracted1/3 agreementValid
    SEP: truth-identity
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    Usually, as has been noted, identity theorists who favor (i) above have this preference because they repudiate propositions as that term is being employed here: that is, they repudiate propositionally structured reference-level entities. There are several reasons why such identity theorists feel uncomfortable with propositions when these are understood to be reference-level entities. There is a fear that such propositions, if they existed, would have to be construed as truth-makers; and identity
    Extraction notes

    Validity: Extracted via Max plan + API grounding/validity checks

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    3 (2 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit