Overview

This book takes an approach to the perennial problems of reference and singular terms by separating the underlying issues into different levels of analysis. The split-level approach includes an account of singular thought, a systematic application of recent work in the theory of speech acts, and a partial revival of Russell's analysis of singular terms. Criticisms of competing views are provided as well.

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9780198249832

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Bach's account of reference is systematic and detailed....Although in no way trivial or superficial, Thought and Reference look like a healthy resurgence of common sense. Such a model of clarity should at least provide refreshing stimuli for those wallowing in the deepening mire of recent technicalities.--David Freeman, Oxford University A powerful and persuasive defence of a particular point of view of the relations between semantics and pragmatics, and an important contribution to the field.--Times Higher Education Supplement Bach provides an interesting, and sometimes entertaining, survey of the various 'referential intentions' that might determine reference...Bach is largely successful in arguing in detail that a number of debates concerning the senses of referring expressions, or of sentences that contain them, turn on a neglect of the distinction between questions concerning the meaning or reference of linguistic entities and questions concerning what linguistic entities are (even standardly) used for.--Inquiry An ambitious book....Will be of interest to philosophers of language and linguists studying semantics and pragmatics....It is also important because it represents a flow of ideas and distinctions from linguistics towards philosophy, when the traditional flow has been in the other direction.--Language A subtle and convincing analysis...especially interesting are his critiques of the positions of Strawson, Evans, Searle, Donnellan, Kripke and Burge.--Dialectica Stimulates and illuminates.--Times Literary Supplement

Bach's account of reference is systematic and detailed....Although in no way trivial or superficial, Thought and Reference look like a healthy resurgence of common sense. Such a model of clarity should at least provide refreshing stimuli for those wallowing in the deepening mire of recent technicalities. --David Freeman, Oxford University<br> A powerful and persuasive defence of a particular point of view of the relations between semantics and pragmatics, and an important contribution to the field. --Times Higher Education Supplement<br> Bach provides an interesting, and sometimes entertaining, survey of the various 'referential intentions' that might determine reference...Bach is largely successful in arguing in detail that a number of debates concerning the senses of referring expressions, or of sentences that contain them, turn on a neglect of the distinction between questions concerning the meaning or reference of linguistic entities and questions concerning what linguistic entities are (even standardly) used for. --Inquiry<br> An ambitious book....Will be of interest to philosophers of language and linguists studying semantics and pragmatics....It is also important because it represents a flow of ideas and distinctions from linguistics towards philosophy, when the traditional flow has been in the other direction. --Language<br> A subtle and convincing analysis...especially interesting are his critiques of the positions of Strawson, Evans, Searle, Donnellan, Kripke and Burge. --Dialectica Stimulates and illuminates. --Times Literary Supplement<br>

Bach's account of reference is systematic and detailed....Although in no way trivial or superficial, Thought and Reference look like a healthy resurgence of common sense. Such a model of clarity should at least provide refreshing stimuli for those wallowing in the deepening mire of recent technicalities. --David Freeman, Oxford University A powerful and persuasive defence of a particular point of view of the relations between semantics and pragmatics, and an important contribution to the field. --Times Higher Education Supplement Bach provides an interesting, and sometimes entertaining, survey of the various 'referential intentions' that might determine reference...Bach is largely successful in arguing in detail that a number of debates concerning the senses of referring expressions, or of sentences that contain them, turn on a neglect of the distinction between questions concerning the meaning or reference of linguistic entities and questions concerning what linguistic entities are (even standardly) used for. --Inquiry An ambitious book....Will be of interest to philosophers of language and linguists studying semantics and pragmatics....It is also important because it represents a flow of ideas and distinctions from linguistics towards philosophy, when the traditional flow has been in the other direction. --Language A subtle and convincing analysis...especially interesting are his critiques of the positions of Strawson, Evans, Searle, Donnellan, Kripke and Burge. --Dialectica Stimulates and illuminates. --Times Literary Supplement

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