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    Carmelics

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
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    Home/Original/inverse
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    Inverse View

    It is not the case that The reduplication argument demonstrates that descriptive content cannot individuate the referent, which entails direct reference is the default mode for singular thought.

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    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
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    • 1.Reduplication arguments only show descriptions are insufficient, not that direct reference is the *default* rather than one mechanism among several.
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    • 2.Most singular thoughts about ordinary objects rely on recognitional capacities and practical mastery, not purely direct causal reference chains.
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    • 3.The argument conflates reference-fixing (how we identify objects) with reference-determining (what makes a thought about that object), wrongly concluding direct reference for both.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Reduplication cases show two subjects with identical descriptive content can have different referents, proving descriptions alone don't determine reference.
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    • 2.If descriptions individuated referents, there could be no cases of thought-content mismatch between what we think and what we refer to.
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    • 3.Direct reference via causal chains explains how we successfully refer to objects despite incomplete or false descriptive beliefs about them.
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