Work

Fixing Reference by Maximizing Knowledge

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This paper explores the idea inspired by Williamson (2007) that the meaning of a name is the object such that assigning it as referent maximizes knowledge. After situating this idea in a charity-based tradition of interpretation and making it more precise, I argue that it suffers from serious problems. I then show why these problems persist under more holistic strategies of charity-based interpretation.

Source: Ergo an Open Access Journal of Philosophy

DOI: 10.3998/ergo.8578

Author: Atheer Al-Khalfa

Institution: The University of Adelaide

Language: English

Topic: Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics

Subfield: Philosophy

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4416427337

FWCI: 8.312

Cites: 8

Cited by: 1

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