Principal investigators: Genoveva Marti, José Martínez
The general aim of this project is to study whether non-unitary explanations are required in order to account for reference, truth and logical consequence. We will focus especially on the relationships between phenomena of the three kinds. Our hypothesis is that different domains of discourse demand different theoretical explanations, both in logic and in semantics, so we defend a form of logical and semantic localism.
Specific objectives:
1) To study solutions to the challenge of specifying how to reason correctly on the basis of premises that belong to domains with different local semantics and logics.
2) To investigate the logics adequate to solve semantic paradoxes and their application to other philosophical issues, in particular their application to problems generated by normative and legal discourse.
3) To study the different mechanisms of reference determination for proper names, demonstratives, predicates, gradable adjectives and quantificational expressions in their referential uses.
4) To discuss the structure of the dialectic between Fregean or descriptive theories and theories of direct reference. Although both are taken to be essentially monistic, we will argue that direct reference theories are not incompatible with localism.
5) To present criticisms to monistic proposals that treat proper names as predicates.
6) To establish connections between pluralist theories of truth and other forms of pluralism.
Amount awarded: 53,351€ and a predoctoral FPI scholarship.
