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Metaphor and Truth‐conditional Semantics: Meaning as Process and Product
Author(s) -
COLLIN FINN,
ENGSTRØM ANDERS
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
theoria
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.34
H-Index - 16
eISSN - 1755-2567
pISSN - 0040-5825
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-2567.2001.tb00197.x
Subject(s) - argument (complex analysis) , meaning (existential) , psychologism , epistemology , metaphor , semantics (computer science) , semantic theory of truth , truth condition , philosophy , computer science , linguistics , biochemistry , chemistry , programming language
Abstract A criticism is offered of the chief argument employed by Davidson to debunk the notion of “metaphorical meaning”, which exploits the static nature of standard truth‐conditional semantics. We argue, first, that Davidson's argument fails, and go on to suggest, secondly, that truth‐conditional semantics would profit if the static feature were abandoned and were replaced by a processual, dynamic conception of meaning. We try to show that this processual aspect can be captured without making the ensuing semantic theory open to the charge of psychologism.