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Meaning and Mindreading
Author(s) -
ROBERT THOMPSON J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
mind and language
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.905
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1468-0017
pISSN - 0268-1064
DOI - 10.1111/mila.12046
Subject(s) - psychology , meaning (existential) , linguistics , epistemology , cognitive science , cognitive psychology , philosophy
Abstract In this article, I defend Neo‐Gricean accounts of language and communication from an objection about linguistic development. According to this objection, children are incapable of understanding the minds of others in the way that Neo‐Gricean accounts require until long after they learn the meanings of words, are able to produce meaningful utterances, and understand the meaningful utterances of others. In answering this challenge, I outline exactly what sorts of psychological states are required by Neo‐Gricean accounts and conclude that there is sufficient evidence that these types of psychological states are present in and capable of being understood by the children in question.