David Kaplan

Definition

David Kaplan is a prominent philosopher known for his influential work in semantics, particularly regarding the theory of meaning and reference in language. His contributions have significantly shaped the understanding of context and indexicality, which are crucial in the analysis of language and its relation to the world. Kaplan's ideas explore how the meaning of expressions can shift depending on various factors, including speaker context and the circumstances of utterance.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Kaplan is best known for his distinction between character and content in understanding indexicals, where character is a rule that assigns content to an expression based on context.
2. His famous paper 'Demonstratives' introduces the concept of indexicals as pivotal in understanding how meaning operates in dynamic contexts.
3. Kaplan argues that meaning isn't fixed but varies with context, leading to significant implications for theories of truth and reference.
4. His work challenges traditional views by emphasizing how context can change what a statement refers to, impacting debates on truth conditions.
5. Kaplan's ideas contribute to the larger discussion on contextualism versus minimalism, where he supports a contextualist perspective regarding language interpretation.

Review Questions

• How does David Kaplan's concept of indexicals influence our understanding of language meaning?
  • Kaplan's concept of indexicals highlights how words like 'I' and 'here' rely heavily on context for their meanings. This understanding influences our interpretation of language by showing that the same sentence can have different meanings depending on who is speaking and when. By emphasizing this contextual dependence, Kaplan shifts focus from static meanings to dynamic interpretations, which is essential in analyzing how language functions in real-life communication.
• Discuss how Kaplan's theories contribute to the debate between contextualism and minimalism in semantics.
  • Kaplan's theories support contextualism by illustrating that meaning is often not fixed but rather contingent on various contextual factors. This perspective contrasts with minimalism, which posits that the meanings of expressions are stable regardless of context. Kaplan’s focus on indexicals and their variable meanings demonstrates that context plays a crucial role in how we interpret statements, thereby strengthening the argument for contextualism in semantic discussions.
• Evaluate the impact of Kaplan's distinction between character and content on contemporary semantic theories.
  • Kaplan's distinction between character and content has profoundly impacted contemporary semantic theories by clarifying how different contexts can influence interpretation. This distinction allows for a more nuanced understanding of how language operates beyond simple truth conditions. By acknowledging that character provides a systematic way to derive content based on context, modern semantics can better address issues related to reference, modality, and speaker intent, ultimately enriching our grasp of linguistic meaning.

Related terms

Indexicals: Words or phrases that derive their meaning from the context in which they are used, such as 'I', 'here', and 'now'.

Intensional Logic: A type of logic that deals with propositions and modalities, focusing on meanings rather than truth values.

Contextualism: The view that the meaning of expressions depends on the context of use, including the speaker's intentions and the surrounding circumstances.