more from Gilbert Harman

Single Idea 12590

[catalogued under 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 6. Meaning as Use]

Full Idea

(Nonsolipsistic) conceptual role semantics is a version of the theory that meaning is use, where the basic use is taken to be in calculation, not in communication, and where concepts are treated as symbols in a 'language of thought'.

Gist of Idea

Take meaning to be use in calculation with concepts, rather than in communication

Source

Gilbert Harman ((Nonsolipsistic) Conceptual Role Semantics [1987], 12.1.1)

Book Reference

Harman,Gilbert: 'Reasoning Meaning and Mind' [OUP 1999], p.207


A Reaction

The idea seems to be to connect the highly social Wittgensteinian view of language with the reductive physicalist account of how brains generate concepts. Interesting, thought I never like meaning-as-use.