Meaning, Functions, and the Promise of Indicator Semantics

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dc.contributor.authorRichardson, Jasonen
dc.contributor.committeechairHardcastle, Valerie Grayen
dc.contributor.committeememberKlagge, James C.en
dc.contributor.committeememberPitt, Joseph C.en
dc.contributor.departmentPhilosophyen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:51:20Zen
dc.date.adate1996-07-19en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:51:20Zen
dc.date.issued1996-07-19en
dc.date.rdate1996-07-19en
dc.date.sdate1998-07-21en
dc.description.abstractIn this thesis, I first present Fred Dretske's theory of mental represent- ations, which purports to show how a physical thing could have (non-derived) meaning. In order to illustrate the applicability of the theory to an actual physical system, I discuss the theory in relation to two theories of audio localization (i.e., the capacity to locate the source of sounds in one's environment). Having clarified the theory, I examine two charges laid against it. Lynne Rudder Baker charges the theory with circularity. Her charge is refuted by appealing to the concept of a "standby function." Stephen Stich charges the theory with vagueness. His charge is refuted by appealing to a general analysis of functions. I conclude that a careful use and analysis of the previously unanalyzed term "function" makes possible the refutation of these two charges.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Artsen
dc.identifier.otheretd-3334201599622881en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-3334201599622881/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/36636en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartjason.pdfen
dc.relation.haspartetd.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectDretskeen
dc.subjectmeaningen
dc.subjectfunctionsen
dc.subjectindicationen
dc.subjectaudio localizationen
dc.titleMeaning, Functions, and the Promise of Indicator Semanticsen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplinePhilosophyen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Artsen

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