Truth, topicality, and transparency: one-component versus two-component semantics

Peter HAWKE; Levin HORNISCHER; Francesco BERTO

doi:10.1007/s10988-023-09408-y

Truth, topicality, and transparency: one-component versus two-component semantics

Peter HAWKE, Levin HORNISCHER, Francesco BERTO^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Philosophy

Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

When do two sentences say the same thing, that is, express the same content? We defend two-component (2C) semantics: the view that propositional contents comprise (at least) two irreducibly distinct constituents: (1) truth-conditions and (2) subject-matter. We contrast 2C with one-component (1C) semantics, focusing on the view that subject-matter is reducible to truth-conditions. We identify exponents of this view and argue in favor of 2C. An appendix proposes a general formal template for propositional 2C semantics.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	481-503
Number of pages	23
Journal	Linguistics and Philosophy
Volume	47
Issue number	3
Early online date	31 May 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10988-023-09408-y
Publication status	Published - Jun 2024

Bibliographical note

Variations on the ideas included in this paper were presented at the Exploring Hyperintensional Semantics workshop (November 2018) at Utrecht University; during the Chair Mercier Lectures at the Université Catholique de Louvain; at the 9th Summer School in Philosophy at the University of Hamburg; to the MUMBLE Research Group, Department of Philosophy, University of Turin; to the Metaphysics and Logic Group at Arché in St Andrews; and to the Lingnan Faculty Research Seminar (October 2021) at Lingnan University, Hong Kong.

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.

Keywords

2-Component semantics
Aboutness
Subject matter
Topicality
Truth conditions

Access to Document

10.1007/s10988-023-09408-yLicence: CC BY

https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10988-023-09408-y

Cite this

@article{0a67d85a632b4e72b0319441077bd506,

title = "Truth, topicality, and transparency: one-component versus two-component semantics",

abstract = "When do two sentences say the same thing, that is, express the same content? We defend two-component (2C) semantics: the view that propositional contents comprise (at least) two irreducibly distinct constituents: (1) truth-conditions and (2) subject-matter. We contrast 2C with one-component (1C) semantics, focusing on the view that subject-matter is reducible to truth-conditions. We identify exponents of this view and argue in favor of 2C. An appendix proposes a general formal template for propositional 2C semantics.",

keywords = "2-Component semantics, Aboutness, Subject matter, Topicality, Truth conditions",

author = "Peter HAWKE and Levin HORNISCHER and Francesco BERTO",

note = "Variations on the ideas included in this paper were presented at the Exploring Hyperintensional Semantics workshop (November 2018) at Utrecht University; during the Chair Mercier Lectures at the Universit{\'e} Catholique de Louvain; at the 9th Summer School in Philosophy at the University of Hamburg; to the MUMBLE Research Group, Department of Philosophy, University of Turin; to the Metaphysics and Logic Group at Arch{\'e} in St Andrews; and to the Lingnan Faculty Research Seminar (October 2021) at Lingnan University, Hong Kong. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2024.",

year = "2024",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1007/s10988-023-09408-y",

language = "English",

volume = "47",

pages = "481--503",

journal = "Linguistics and Philosophy",

issn = "0165-0157",

publisher = "Springer Netherlands",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Truth, topicality, and transparency: one-component versus two-component semantics

AU - HAWKE, Peter

AU - HORNISCHER, Levin

AU - BERTO, Francesco

N1 - Variations on the ideas included in this paper were presented at the Exploring Hyperintensional Semantics workshop (November 2018) at Utrecht University; during the Chair Mercier Lectures at the Université Catholique de Louvain; at the 9th Summer School in Philosophy at the University of Hamburg; to the MUMBLE Research Group, Department of Philosophy, University of Turin; to the Metaphysics and Logic Group at Arché in St Andrews; and to the Lingnan Faculty Research Seminar (October 2021) at Lingnan University, Hong Kong. Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.

PY - 2024/6

Y1 - 2024/6

N2 - When do two sentences say the same thing, that is, express the same content? We defend two-component (2C) semantics: the view that propositional contents comprise (at least) two irreducibly distinct constituents: (1) truth-conditions and (2) subject-matter. We contrast 2C with one-component (1C) semantics, focusing on the view that subject-matter is reducible to truth-conditions. We identify exponents of this view and argue in favor of 2C. An appendix proposes a general formal template for propositional 2C semantics.

AB - When do two sentences say the same thing, that is, express the same content? We defend two-component (2C) semantics: the view that propositional contents comprise (at least) two irreducibly distinct constituents: (1) truth-conditions and (2) subject-matter. We contrast 2C with one-component (1C) semantics, focusing on the view that subject-matter is reducible to truth-conditions. We identify exponents of this view and argue in favor of 2C. An appendix proposes a general formal template for propositional 2C semantics.

KW - 2-Component semantics

KW - Aboutness

KW - Subject matter

KW - Topicality

KW - Truth conditions

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85194706149&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s10988-023-09408-y

DO - 10.1007/s10988-023-09408-y

M3 - Journal Article (refereed)

SN - 0165-0157

VL - 47

SP - 481

EP - 503

JO - Linguistics and Philosophy

JF - Linguistics and Philosophy

IS - 3

ER -

Truth, topicality, and transparency: one-component versus two-component semantics

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

The Semantics of Knowledge and Ignorance

Cite this

Truth, topicality, and transparency: one-component versus two-component semantics

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

The Semantics of Knowledge and Ignorance

Cite this