Single Idea 3086

[catalogued under 18. Thought / B. Mechanics of Thought / 4. Language of Thought]

Full Idea

The theory of language-independent meanings or semantic representations is mistaken.

Gist of Idea

Are there any meanings apart from in a language?

Source

Gilbert Harman (Thought [1973], 6.5)

Book Reference

Harman,Gilbert: 'Thought' [Princeton 1977], p.97


A Reaction

This would make him (in Dummett's terms) a 'philosopher of language' rather than a 'philosopher of thought'. Personally I disagree. Don't animals have 'meanings'? Can two sentences share a meaning?