
Contents
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1. Singularism vs Descriptivism 1. Singularism vs Descriptivism
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2. Russell's Mistake 2. Russell's Mistake
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3. Can Descriptivism Account for Singularity? 3. Can Descriptivism Account for Singularity?
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4. Non‐descriptive Modes of Presentation as Mental Files 4. Non‐descriptive Modes of Presentation as Mental Files
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5. The Communication of Singular Thoughts 5. The Communication of Singular Thoughts
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6. Singular Thought Without Acquaintance? 6. Singular Thought Without Acquaintance?
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7. Acquaintanceless Singular Thought for the Acquaintance Lover 7. Acquaintanceless Singular Thought for the Acquaintance Lover
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8. Three Positions 8. Three Positions
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9. Derived Functions for Mental Files 9. Derived Functions for Mental Files
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10. Conclusion: Singular Type, Singular Token, and Singular Content 10. Conclusion: Singular Type, Singular Token, and Singular Content
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References References
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5 Singular Thought: In Defence of Acquaintance
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Published:June 2010
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Abstract
This chapter argues that singular thought about an object involves nondescriptive or de re ways of thinking of that object, that is, modes of presentation resting on contextual relations of ‘acquaintance’ to the object. Such modes of presentation are analysed as mental files in which the subject can store information gained through the acquaintance relations in question. The paper shows that the mental‐file approach provides an answer to the objection from ‘acquaintanceless de re thought’ (to the effect that tokening a singular thought does not require being actually acquainted with the object the thought is about), as well as a solution to a vexing problem regarding the communication of singular thoughts: if singular thoughts depend upon contextual relations to the objects of thought, how can they be communicated across contexts ? What makes communication possible when the speaker and the addressee do not stand in the same contextual relations to the objects the speaker's thought is about?
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