Work

Narrative therefore

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ‘Therefore’ can be used narratively to explain how events came about, as in ‘John pushed Max. Therefore, Max fell’. I argue that such narrative uses undermine a popular view on the semantic contribution of ‘therefore’ that dates back to Grice’s infamous ‘He is an Englishman; he is, therefore, brave’ passage. I consider two ways of resuscitating the Gricean view and find them wanting. I conclude with a more promising account of narrative ‘therefore’. Along the way, I argue that ‘therefore’ is polysemous.

Source: The Philosophical Quarterly

DOI: 10.1093/pq/pqag011

Author: Bram Vaassen

Institution: Umeå University

Language: English

Topic: Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation

Subfield: Language and Linguistics

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,204

Funder: Vetenskapsrådet