Metaphysicians of Meaning

Gideon Makin is Lecturer of Philosophy at the Open University, Tel Aviv, and Research Fellow at Wolfson College, University of Oxford.

Part I: Russell Chapter 1: Russell's First Theory of Denoting I. The Elements II. The Mathematical context III. Denoting, definition and identity IV. Three essential elements V. Post PoM developments Chapter 2: The Collapse of the First Theory and the Discovery of the Theory of Descriptions I. Introduction: the obscure passage in 'On Denoting' II. The argument: the 'substantial' round (i) C2 is a different entity from C1 (ii) C1 cannot be a constituent of C2 (iii) 'But this cannot be an explanation' I. (iv) The third charge III. The argument: the 'symbolic' round (i) The twin phenomena (ii) Use and mention IV. 'But this cannot be an explanation II (i) The burden of proof (ii) A survey of theoretical possibilities (iii) C2 as a description of C1 (iv) Denoting and other logical relations V. The Transition VI. The discovery of the Theory of Descriptions Chapter 3: The Place of 'On Denoting' in Russell's Development I. 'On Denoting' and Russell's ontological development: some preliminaries I. Russell's case against Meinong III. Russell's ontology in PoM reconsidered IV. Methodological developments: 'Every word must have some meaning' V. Contextual definition VI. The Notion of an incomplete symbol VII. The role of language VIII. Some positive remarks Part II: Frege Chapter 4: From Begriffsschrift to sense and Reference I. Introduction II. The problem III. Frege's solution in Bs IV. 'Sinn und Bedeutung': the collapse of the first theory V. 'Sinn und Bedeutung': The new solution Chapter 5: Further Considerations Regarding Sense and Reference I. The priority of the distinction for proper names II. Sense and indirect speech III. Sense as a route and empty senses IV. Sense determines reference I - The question of relativization V. Sense determines reference II - The conceptual model VI. The application of Russell's argument in OD to Frege's distinction Part III: Russell and Frege Chapter 6: Russell and Frege Compared I. Introduction: The