Vayrynen, PP (2013) Thick Concepts and Underdetermination. In: Kirchin, S, (ed.) Thick Concepts. Oxford University Press , 136 - 160. ISBN 9780199672349
Abstract
Thick terms and concepts in ethics (e.g. selfish, cruel and courageous) somehow combine evaluation and non-evaluative description. The non-evaluative aspects of thick terms and concepts underdetermine their extensions. Many writers argue that this underdetermination point is best explained by supposing that thick terms and concepts are semantically evaluative in some way such that evaluation plays a role in determining their extensions. This paper argues that the extensions of thick terms and concepts are underdetermined by their meanings in toto, irrespective of whether their extensions are partly determined by evaluation; the underdetermination point can therefore be explained without supposing that thick terms and concepts are semantically evaluative. My argument applies general points about semantic gradability and context-sensitivity to the semantics of thick terms and concepts.
Metadata
Item Type: | Book Section |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Editors: |
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Keywords: | Thick Concepts; Semantic underdetermination; Context-sensitivity; Moral semantics |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (Leeds) > School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 11 Nov 2013 11:33 |
Last Modified: | 20 Feb 2024 16:02 |
Published Version: | http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199672349.d... |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
Identification Number: | 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199314751.003.0007 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:76771 |