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.

Funding

We are grateful to the various audiences, as well as to two anonymous referees for this journal, for helpful comments and objections. This research is published within the project ‘The Logic of Conceivability’, funded by the European Research Council (ERC CoG), Grant No. 681404. Moreover, this publication is part of the project ‘Foundations of Analogical Thinking’ (Project No. 322-20-017) of the research program ’PhDs in the Humanities’, which is (partly) financed by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). Moreover, this publication is part of the project ‘The Semantics of Knowledge and Ignorance’ (ECS Project No. 23603221), funded by the Early Career Scheme of the University Grants Council (UGC) of Hong Kong.

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

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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.",

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KW - 2-Component semantics

KW - Aboutness

KW - Subject matter

KW - Topicality

KW - Truth conditions

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ER -

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

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

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

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

The Semantics of Knowledge and Ignorance

Cite this