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Natural Name Theory and Linguistic Kinds

MILLER, JTM

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Authors

JTM MILLER



Abstract

The natural name theory, recently discussed by Johnson (2018), is proposed as an explanation of pure quotation where the quoted term(s) refers to a linguistic object such as in the sentence ‘In the above, ‘bank’ is ambiguous’. After outlining the theory, I raise a problem for the natural name theory. I argue that positing a resemblance relation between the name and the linguistic object it names does not allow us to rule out cases where the natural name fails to resemble the linguistic object it names. I argue that to avoid this problem, we can combine the natural name theory with a type-realist metaphysics of language, and hold that the name is natural because the name is an instance of the kind that it names. I conclude by reflecting on the importance of the metaphysics of language for questions in the philosophy of language.

Citation

MILLER, J. (2019). Natural Name Theory and Linguistic Kinds. Journal of Philosophy, 116(9), 494-508. https://doi.org/10.5840/jphil2019116930

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 29, 2019
Online Publication Date Sep 1, 2019
Publication Date Sep 1, 2019
Deposit Date Oct 13, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal The Journal of Philosophy
Print ISSN 0022-362X
Electronic ISSN 1939-8549
Publisher Journal of Philosophy
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 116
Issue 9
Pages 494-508
DOI https://doi.org/10.5840/jphil2019116930
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2722388
Publisher URL https://www.pdcnet.org/jphil/content/jphil_2019_0116_0009_0494_0508
Additional Information This is the peer-reviewed version of the following article: Natural Name Theory and Linguistic Kinds, J.T.M. Miller, Journal of Philosophy, v. 116, issue 9, pp. 494-508, which has been published in final form at https://www.pdcnet.org/jphil/content/jphil_2019_0116_0009_0494_0508. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes only.

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