A Study On Saul Kripke's Direct Reference Theory And Relevant Theories

The reference theory has always been a core issue in the domain of philosophy of language.The concept is closely tied up with the notion of meaning and truth.Together,these concepts forged as the foundations and core issue of logic,the philosophy of language and analytic philosophy.These related concepts and theories have been orientational directions of the discipline.The direct reference theory proposed by Saul Kripke would be the most conflicting and heated topic in the relevant domain.This direct reference theory has devastating influence upon the traditional theory of descriptions and clusters of descriptions.However,in the related debate and discussion of the relevant theories,different schools could neither reach some common grounds of the reference theory,nor attain any reference fixing mechanisms.Upon this background,the thesis tries to point out the reasons of theoretical confrontations of the different schools from a cognitive perspective and view and finally reach a possible solution.So,the thesis unfolds in several related steps.The first chapter mainly illustrates the importance and value of the thesis?former researches?writing pattern?expectations and limitations of the thesis.The second chapter mainly illustrates the background theories before the immergence of the direct reference theory.This background mainly consists of the formation and development of the description theory.In specific,Gottlob Frege proposed the distinctive concepts of sense and reference.Successively,English philosopher Bertrand Russell put forward his own theory of descriptions aiming at the formalization work of natural languages through the revision and development of Frege's work.Meanwhile.Russell proposed his own theory of logical atomism upon his logical monism principle.John Searle further revised the theory and proposed the more complicated theory of clusters of descriptions.The theory of descriptions and clusters of descriptions formed the traditional theory of reference and background which would be later attacked by Saul Kripke.The third chapter explained how Kripke attacked the traditional theory of reference,as well as how Kripke build up his own theory.Then,the thesis gave an objective evaluation of the direct reference theory,suggesting its own defects.Furthermore,the chapter gave an illustration of the essentialism view,and tell the relation of the framework and the view.The forth chapter gave a detailed analysis of the very foundation of the essentialism view.Also,this chapter mentioned some notions of the two-dimensional framework.Then,the thesis mainly raised doubts and suspicion upon the vital concepts in the direct reference theory.In specific,if the validity of the very foundation of essentialism be questioned and doubted,then the notions of rigid designator,propositions of contingent a priori truth and necessary a posteriori truth would lose their own validity.The fifth chapter first introduced the modal illusion triggered by the theory of Kripke and the relevant two-dimensional framework proposed by David Kaplan and David Chalmers.Then the chapter suggested the defect of Chalmers,theory,namely,the impractical defect.Thus,such framework is not apt for analyzing the phenomena of natural languages.Finally,the chapter suggested a possible solution,the one-dimensional framework proposed by David Lewis.Through the former researches,the thesis tried to show the following results.1.Correct reference theory must answer some basic questions,such as the relation between cognitive and essentialism elements and the mechanics of reference conformation.2.Point out that the direct reference theory is in close relation with Russell's logical atomism theory.3.Suggest a possible way for future development of the reference theory,namely,David Lewis' one-dimensional framework.