Fodorian Naturalistic Semantics and Double Disjunctivitis :: Philosophy

Fodorian Naturalistic Semantics and Double DisjunctivitisABSTRACT Direct Informational Semantics, match to which Xs represent ( put forward/mean) X if Xs cause Xs is a law, and Fodorian naturalistic semantics both take on from double disjunctivitis. I argue that validness, properly construed, characterizes both represented properties and representing symbols twain or more properties normally regarded as non-disjunctive may all(prenominal) be nomologically connected to a non-disjunctive symbol, and two or more non-disjunctive symbols may each be nomologically connected to a property. This kind of robustness bifurcates the so-called disjuncture problem into a Represented-Disjunction line of work, of which Fodor was aware, and a Representer-Disjunction Problem, of which he was on the whole oblivious. Fodor fails to settle these problems his solution to the antecedent, the Asymmetric addiction Condition, presupposes a successful solution to the latter, dapple possible responses that Fodor might make to the latter either beg the former or cannot be met or else flout the Naturalistic Requirement and the atomistic Requirement. Even setting the Representer-Disjunction Problem aside, the Represented-Disjunction Problem does not hitch solved, because the robustness involving phonological/orthographic sequences (tokens and types) guarantees that nothing can meet the Asymmetrical Dependence Condition. Indeed there is a serious problem of individuating phonological/orthographic tokens and types in a manner that satisfies Fodors expectations. This is made manifest by the presence of orthographic tokens embedded in larger tokens. I. Fodors naturalization Proposal and the Represented-Disjunction ProblemThe specific task which the naturalization project is knowing to accomplish is to construct an information-based semantic theory that articulates (I) an atomistic and (II) naturalistic i.e., in non-intentional, non-semantic terms adequate condition for a syntactica lly primitive exclaim to express a property. (1) For convenience (I) will be referred to as the atomistic Requirement and (II) as the Naturalistic Requirement. Now if Direct Informational Semantics were correct, tamarao would express the disjunctive property tamarao or thump because, under received conditions, a thump and a tamarao are each sufficient for its tokening. Thus a tokening of a symbol would be ipso facto true. There would be no accounting for the fact that meaning is robust cow tokens get caused in all sorts of ways, and they all mean cow for all that. (2) I shall refer to this problem (3) as the Represented-Disjunction Problem, considering that it figures on the represented side. Fodor proposes to solve the Represented-Disjunction Problem without abandoning the main thrust of the information-theoretic account. His proposal (FP) is that X means X if (4)