The current year 2005 is of a particular relevance for students of analytical and linguistic philosophy, because a century has just elapsed since the publication of the article on denoting by bertrand russell. I argue in this paper, based on close textual analysis, that russells notorious grays elegy argument in on denoting is completely invalid, and founded on notational confusion. Bertrand arthur william russell,18 may 18722 february 1970 was a briti. Referring donnellan uses russells definition of denoting. According to russell, a phrase is denoting solely in virtue of its form.
Russell on denoting and naming university of notre dame. Like many philosophical terms, metaphysics can be understood in a variety of ways, so any discussion of bertrand russells metaphysics must select from among the various possible ways of understanding the notion, for example, as. Russell on denoting university of california, davis. Metaphysics is not a school or tradition but rather a subdiscipline within philosophy, as are ethics, logic and epistemology.
Whereas frege assimilated denoting phrases like the f to proper names, russell assimilated them to quanti. Petrov, v bertrand russells criticism of bergsons views about continuity and discreteness filozofia 68, 20, no 10, p. The relation in ques tion, without the assumption ot uniqueness, and without any denoting phrases, is expressed by begat charles ll. Russells theory of denoting in the principles of mathematics find, read and cite all the research. This is to say, the phrase neednt actually denote in order to be a denoting phrase. Russell handout in on denoting despre denotare russell incearca. Request pdf on nov 1, 2004, antonio rauti and others published propositional structure and b. By a denoting phrase i mean a phrase such as any one of the following. The phrase denoting complex occupies a prominent position in russell s argument against frege see above.
Reading on denoting on its centenary david kaplan1 my project is primarily expository and context setting. On denoting bertrand russell by a denoting phrase i mean a phrase such as any one of the following. In it, russell introduces and advocates his theory of denoting phrases, according to which definite descriptions and other denoting phrases. Logic and knowledge, essays 19011950, the macmillan company, london, 1956 p.
It was published in the philosophy journal mind in 1905. If you wish to become a logician, there is one piece of advice which i cannot urge too strongly, and that is. Russell put forward his 1905 theory of denoting on the basis of evidence which he said is derived from the difficulties which seem unavoidable if we regard denoting phrases as standing for the genuine constituents of the propositions in whose verbal expressions they occur. There are three main motivations for the theory of descriptions. His most influential contributions include his championing of logicism the view that mathematics is in some important sense reducible to logic, his refining of. Bertrand russell, on denoting, originally published in mind in 1905, referred to here as included in r. Bertrand russell, on denoting, the analytic tradition, spring 2017. Although i flag a few issues in my own voice, i am trying, on the whole, to present my discussion and analysis in a.
Searle claims that russells use of the phrase is slipshod, but that it stands for the meaning of a denoting phrase. In the art of philosophizing, bertrand russell offered the following admonishment. But, like strawson, he thinks of referring as a relation between a speaker that the thing he or she means to be talking about. Heres mark reading a bertrand russell article, on denoting from 1905. I argue in this paper, based on close textual analysis, that russell s notorious grays elegy argument in on denoting is completely invalid, and founded on notational confusion. On denoting, bya denoting phrase i mean a phrase such as any one of the following. The law of the excluded middle by the law of the excluded middle, either a is b or a is not b must be true. The essay is one of the most significant and influential philosophical essays of the 20th century. It was reprinted, in both a special 2005 anniversary issue of the same journal and in russells logic and knowledge, 1956. Mattey fall, 2005 philosophy 156 denoting in the principles of mathematics thisnotiondenotingliesatthebottomithinkofalltheoriesofsubstance,of the subjectpredicate logic, and of the oppositions between things and ideas, discursive thought and immediate perception. On denoting is an essay by bertrand russell from 1905. In a 1905 essay on denoting, russell said, by the law of the excluded.
In developing his theory of sense and reference, frege had discussed the. Although i flag a few issues in my own voice, i am trying, on the whole, to present my discussion and analysis in a way that is. Russells theory of descriptions emanuele riverso 1. It traces out the origins of that criticism and analyzes its essence, reasons and development in russells works. It kicks off with a few minutes of summarizing the text, then the rest is a verbatim reading. Feb 03, 2017 bertrand russell, on denoting, the analytic tradition, spring 2017. Bertrand arthur william russell 18721970 was a british philosopher, logician, essayist and social critic best known for his work in mathematical logic and analytic philosophy. Russells principle argument against frege is russells discussion of grays elegy, which is su ciently confusing that it merits a separate handout. Hence either the present king of france is bald or the present king of france is not bald must be true. Bagni department on mathematics and computer science university of udine italy summary. Russells theory of descriptions russells surprising claim about denoting terms. Bertrand russell, british philosopher and logician, founding figure in the analytic movement in angloamerican philosophy, and recipient of the 1950 nobel prize for literature. In aristotles day it was a creditable effort, but so was the. On reading on denoting russell is basically translating what he regards as problematic english sentences into a first order language, and then proposing an analysis using the tools of first order logic.
For russell, a denoting phrase such as a man is not a singular utterance or thought. Searle claims that russell s use of the phrase is slipshod, but that it stands for the meaning of a denoting phrase. Throughout his life, russell considered himself a liberal, a socialist and a pacifist, although he also sometimes suggested that his sceptical nature had led him to. The appearance here of three papers from those years, none of them previously available in an authorized edition, should serve to fill this troublesome gap in the chronology of russells available works. Bertrand arthur william russell,18 may 18722 february 1970 was a british philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, writer, social critic and political activist. Bertrand russell stanford encyclopedia of philosophy.
Russell gives us an example by showing how denoting phrases can only exist in a much larger framework. The phrase denoting complex occupies a prominent position in russells argument against frege see above. To get an equivalent of z was the father of charles ll. Russell, on denoting in on denoting, bertrand russell describes three problems involving the use of definite descriptions which he claims any good theory of how denotative phrases involving the should explain. Russell had a distinctive theory of denoting phrases, which it is worth mentioning brie. At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist. Reading on denoting on its centenary semantic scholar. On denoting simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It was reprinted, in both a special 2005 anniversary issue of the same journal and in russell s logic and knowledge, 1956. Bertrand arthur william russell, 3rd earl russell, om frs 18 may 1872 2 february 1970 was a british philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, writer, essayist, social critic, political activist, and nobel laureate. Feb 03, 2017 bertrand russell, on denoting, part 2.
Russells peace appeals, edited by tsutomu makino and kazuteru hitaka. The essay was published in the philosophy journal mind in 1905. According to russell, a sentence the f is g means, roughly, theres exactly one. His contributions to logic, epistemology, and the philosophy of mathematics made him one. Russell s principle argument against frege is russell s discussion of grays elegy, which is su ciently confusing that it merits a separate handout. At various points in his life, russell considered himself a liberal, a socialist and a pacifist, although he also. It is useless on its own, but very handy if it is a part of a wider union of utterances. On denoting and the principle of acquaintance 23 do this because on both theories it is true that given individu als fall under certain concepts which enabl e us to pick those things out. I also want to correct a few misunderstandings that russell or i or others may have had.
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