Gottlob Frege - On Sense and Reference

Jeffrey Kaplan31 minutes read

Different names like Jay-Z and Shawn Carter refer to the same person but present him differently, illustrating Fraga's theory on sense and reference in language. The distinction between sense and reference in linguistic expressions is crucial in understanding how language conveys empirical information and truth value.

Insights

  • Fraga's theory of sense and reference in language distinguishes between the meaning of a term (sense) and what it refers to (reference), showcasing how different names for the same object can convey true knowledge through varying senses despite a shared reference.
  • Fraga's argument emphasizes that the truth value of a declarative sentence is its reference, highlighting that replacing parts of a sentence with expressions having the same reference maintains the truth value, ultimately underscoring the consistency of truth value in language.

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Recent questions

  • What did Dolab Fraga contribute to the philosophy of language?

    Fraga published a paper on sense and reference.

  • How does Fraga's theory explain identity statements?

    Identity statements like "Shawn Carter is Jay-Z" are informative.

  • Can different names refer to the same object?

    Yes, different names can refer to the same object.

  • What is the distinction between sense and reference in language?

    Sense is a mode of presentation separate from reference.

  • How does Fraga's theory explain the truth value of declarative sentences?

    The truth value of a declarative sentence is its reference.

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Summary

00:00

"Sense and Reference in Language Philosophy"

  • Dolab Fraga published the paper "Uber Zin un on Sense and Reference" in 1892, a pivotal work in the philosophy of language.
  • Linguistic terms require both sense and reference, as Fraga realized, exemplified by the interaction between Ellen and Jay-Z.
  • Ellen's prior knowledge of Jay-Z's name showcases the distinction between linguistic and empirical learning.
  • Identity statements like "Shawn Carter is Jay-Z" highlight the informative and empirical nature of certain linguistic expressions.
  • Fraga's theory introduces an additional layer of meaning, the sense, which involves a mode of presentation distinct from reference.
  • The sense of a term can be likened to a description, offering different perspectives on the same object, as illustrated by Fraga's mathematical example with intersecting lines in a triangle.
  • Different names for the same point of intersection in the triangle exemplify how varying senses can convey true knowledge despite a shared reference.
  • Fraga's theory resolves the puzzle of how linguistic expressions can provide empirical information, distinguishing between reference and sense in language.

15:52

"Sense and Reference in Linguistic Signs"

  • Shawn Carter and Jay-Z refer to the same person but present him differently.
  • The morning star and the evening star both refer to Venus but present it differently.
  • Fragga's theory explains linguistic signs having two levels of meaning: sense and reference.
  • Fragga's theory clarifies why identity statements are informative and can be non-linguistic.
  • In normal cases, one name corresponds to one sense and one reference.
  • Different names can refer to the same object, like Jay-Z, Shawn Carter, and HOV.
  • Empty names are meaningful but may not refer to anything tangible.
  • The sense of a term is public and not a private mental concept.
  • The sense of a term is distinct from the associated conception in one's mind.
  • Fraga discusses the sense and reference of whole sentences, constrained by compositionality.

31:13

Truth value of declarative sentence is reference.

  • Swapping names in a sentence with the same reference maintains the truth value, as argued by Fraga, whether the sentence is true or false, demonstrating that the truth value of a declarative sentence is its reference.
  • Fraga's argument emphasizes that the truth value remains unchanged when parts of a sentence are replaced by expressions with the same reference, highlighting that the truth value is the only consistent element that remains unaffected by such substitutions, ultimately leading to the conclusion that the truth value of a declarative sentence is its reference.
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