Threats and challenges to the scientific representation of semantics

We will approach the problem of semantic skepticism by comparing Quine's view with Carnap's strategy for finding intensional equivalences that guarantee a solution to the paradox of analysis; and then we will consider how the Intensionalists use these possible solutions to save the scienti...

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Main Author: Lucas Vollet
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Estadual do Ceará 2023-09-01
Series:Kalagatos
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revistas.uece.br/index.php/kalagatos/article/view/10891
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author Lucas Vollet
author_facet Lucas Vollet
author_sort Lucas Vollet
collection DOAJ
description We will approach the problem of semantic skepticism by comparing Quine's view with Carnap's strategy for finding intensional equivalences that guarantee a solution to the paradox of analysis; and then we will consider how the Intensionalists use these possible solutions to save the scientificity of semantics. Quine disagrees with Carnap that plausible solutions to the question of intensional equivalence provide us with explanations for the difficult problems. These are ones where, in contrast to mere extensional indistinguishability of expressions, we need a stronger determination to choose the right interpretation. And then he has a skeptical answer to which the semanticist-linguist cannot remain insensitive. The problem is that a semanticist can only say that he has an "object" of inquiry if a normative property can be reconstructed, but that is not guaranteed by the mathematical theory used to infer intensional values. Finally, we would like to point out the relevance of skeptical doctrines about semantics that go beyond the mere haunting of relativism or quietism about meaning. Without a skeptical approach, we argue, we lose sight of the unique nature of language and its peculiar property of being an object shaped by pressures on its own ability to be theorized.
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spelling doaj.art-ad7450f12ca745e08c60c7f131e36ec22024-03-20T02:06:59ZengUniversidade Estadual do CearáKalagatos1808-107X1984-92062023-09-01203eK23054eK230549888Threats and challenges to the scientific representation of semanticsLucas Vollet0ufscWe will approach the problem of semantic skepticism by comparing Quine's view with Carnap's strategy for finding intensional equivalences that guarantee a solution to the paradox of analysis; and then we will consider how the Intensionalists use these possible solutions to save the scientificity of semantics. Quine disagrees with Carnap that plausible solutions to the question of intensional equivalence provide us with explanations for the difficult problems. These are ones where, in contrast to mere extensional indistinguishability of expressions, we need a stronger determination to choose the right interpretation. And then he has a skeptical answer to which the semanticist-linguist cannot remain insensitive. The problem is that a semanticist can only say that he has an "object" of inquiry if a normative property can be reconstructed, but that is not guaranteed by the mathematical theory used to infer intensional values. Finally, we would like to point out the relevance of skeptical doctrines about semantics that go beyond the mere haunting of relativism or quietism about meaning. Without a skeptical approach, we argue, we lose sight of the unique nature of language and its peculiar property of being an object shaped by pressures on its own ability to be theorized.https://revistas.uece.br/index.php/kalagatos/article/view/10891semantics, semantic skepticism, semantic problems, quine, carnap, katz
spellingShingle Lucas Vollet
Threats and challenges to the scientific representation of semantics
Kalagatos
semantics, semantic skepticism, semantic problems, quine, carnap, katz
title Threats and challenges to the scientific representation of semantics
title_full Threats and challenges to the scientific representation of semantics
title_fullStr Threats and challenges to the scientific representation of semantics
title_full_unstemmed Threats and challenges to the scientific representation of semantics
title_short Threats and challenges to the scientific representation of semantics
title_sort threats and challenges to the scientific representation of semantics
topic semantics, semantic skepticism, semantic problems, quine, carnap, katz
url https://revistas.uece.br/index.php/kalagatos/article/view/10891
work_keys_str_mv AT lucasvollet threatsandchallengestothescientificrepresentationofsemantics