Philosophy of language 3: Theory of descriptions

Summary

In this lecture, Philippi explores Bertrand Russell's philosophy of language, focusing on his theory of descriptions. Russell, an influential British philosopher, logician, and social critic, is known for his contributions to logic and his controversial social views, including pacifism, feminism, and atheism. The lecture delves into Russell's distinction between names and descriptions, his critique of Frege’s theory of meaning, and his proposal that definite descriptions refer to specific individuals. The discussion also touches on criticisms of Russell’s theory, particularly by Peter Strawson, who introduced the concept of presupposition in language analysis.

Takeaways

• 😀 Bertrand Russell was a renowned British philosopher, logician, and social critic, known for his contributions to both philosophy and mathematics.
• 😀 Russell's theory of descriptions, particularly the distinction between definite and indefinite descriptions, is a fundamental concept in the philosophy of language.
• 😀 He proposed that definite descriptions, like 'the 35th President of the United States', refer to specific individuals, while indefinite descriptions, like 'a tall person', refer to sets of individuals.
• 😀 Russell's theory addresses the problem of non-existent objects in language, suggesting that phrases like 'the Golden Mountain' or 'a round square' may still have meaning without material reference.
• 😀 He believed in the importance of understanding the components of descriptions, even when they do not refer to real-world entities, like 'the Golden Mountain'.
• 😀 Russell's social philosophy included pacifism, feminism, and atheism, and he was an outspoken critic of war, religious institutions, and social inequalities.
• 😀 Despite his pacifism, Russell controversially advocated for the U.S. to strike first with an atomic bomb on Russia in the 1940s, believing communism posed a significant threat.
• 😀 In the realm of feminism, Russell supported women's rights, defended homosexuality, free love, and polygamy, though some of his views have been critiqued, particularly regarding polygamy.
• 😀 Russell's atheism and agnosticism were central to his worldview, famously rejecting the role of religion in ethics and advocating for a secular society.
• 😀 His work in mathematical logic, particularly 'Principia Mathematica', aimed to create a language with unambiguous syntax to resolve logical and linguistic problems.
• 😀 Peter Strawson critiqued Russell’s theory of descriptions, proposing the concept of presupposition to explain how sentences about non-existent objects (like 'the present King of France is wise') can still be meaningful.

Q & A

Who was Bertrand Russell and what were his key contributions to philosophy?

Bertrand Russell was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, social critic, and political activist. He is most famous for his work in logic and the philosophy of language, particularly his theory of descriptions. Russell was also a strong advocate of pacifism, feminism, and atheism, which shaped his social philosophy.

What was Bertrand Russell's stance on pacifism and how did it affect his career?

Russell was a strong pacifist, famously opposing World War I and the use of nuclear weapons. He was imprisoned twice for his anti-war stance and was even dismissed from Cambridge University in 1916 due to his pacifist views. Despite this, he remained a prominent figure in political activism throughout his life.

What is the significance of Russell's theory of descriptions?

Russell's theory of descriptions addresses the problem of non-existent objects in language. He distinguished between names (which directly refer to objects) and descriptions (which refer indirectly). His most important contribution was the distinction between definite and indefinite descriptions, explaining how we can talk meaningfully about things even if they do not exist.

How did Russell's theory of definite descriptions differ from Frege's theory of meaning?

Frege's theory of meaning involves both sense (the way we understand a term) and reference (the object the term refers to). Russell criticized this by highlighting issues with non-existent objects. While Frege's theory maintains that every sign has a reference, Russell argued that descriptions, especially non-existent ones like 'the present King of France,' could still be meaningful even without a direct reference.

What is the difference between a definite description and an indefinite description according to Russell?

A definite description refers to a specific individual, for example, 'the 35th President of the United States.' An indefinite description, on the other hand, refers to a group or set, such as 'a tall person.' Definite descriptions are used to refer to individuals, while indefinite descriptions refer to a class of things.

Why did Russell criticize the use of a Platonic realm of forms in philosophy of language?

Russell criticized the use of a Platonic realm of forms because it involved unnecessary and unverifiable entities. Following Occam's Razor, he argued that theories should avoid invoking entities that are not required to explain phenomena. This led him to develop his theory of descriptions as a more economical and simpler approach.

What role does Occam's Razor play in Russell's philosophy of language?

Occam's Razor is a principle that suggests when multiple explanations are possible, the simplest one should be preferred. Russell applied this principle in his philosophy of language by arguing against the need for a Platonic realm of forms to account for the meaning of terms. Instead, he favored simpler, more direct explanations using descriptions.

What was Peter Strawson's critique of Russell's theory of descriptions?

Peter Strawson criticized Russell's theory of descriptions, especially in cases involving non-existent objects, like 'The present King of France is wise.' He introduced the concept of 'presupposition,' arguing that such sentences implicitly assume the existence of an entity (e.g., the King of France), and this assumption must be accounted for when analyzing the truth of the sentence.

What is presupposition, according to Peter Strawson?

Presupposition, according to Peter Strawson, is an implicit assumption that a statement makes about the world. It is an assumption that is taken for granted in an utterance, such as the assumption that there is a King of France in the sentence 'The present King of France is wise.' Strawson argued that understanding presuppositions is crucial for interpreting the truth or meaning of sentences.

How does Strawson's view of sentences like 'The present King of France is wise' differ from Russell's?

Strawson argued that sentences like 'The present King of France is wise' should not be considered true or false because they presuppose the existence of an entity that does not exist. Instead, he suggested these sentences are undefined or problematic. In contrast, Russell's theory would treat such sentences as having no reference, thus making them meaningless in logical terms.