Papers by Richard W. T. Hou
University of Sydney., Aug 11, 2005
Many criticisms of the prevalent deflationary theories of truth stem from some mi s u n d e r s t... more Many criticisms of the prevalent deflationary theories of truth stem from some mi s u n d e r s t a n d i n g. C l a r i f i c a t i o n c a n b e f o u n d f r o m c o n s i d e r i n g Qu i n e ' s r e a s o n i n g o n t h e d i s q u o t a t i o n a l f e a t u r e o f t h e t r u t h p r e d i c a t e. Qu i n e ' s d i s q u o t a t i o n a l i s m a n d Ho r wi c h ' s mi n imalism are similar theses with respect to the concept of truth, though the difference between the choices of the primary truth bearers and the divergence in their accounts of meaning and reference are striking. Chapter Two is devoted to making plain Quin e ' s r e a s o n i n g r e g a r d i n g t h e disquotational concept of truth, and to constructing a disquotational theory of truth. Also in this chapter, the topic of how to enhance the deductive power of this theory is discussed. The following chapter aims to square Quine ' s t h e s e s o f i n s c r u t a b i l i t y o f reference and ontological relativity, with an account of the disquotational schema of reference. Whether or not a disquotational schema of reference and all its instances 12 Heck thinks what really does the trick of avoiding semantic paradoxes is the distinction between objectand metalanguages. But there is a good reason why appealing to the explicit definitions is necessary, viz., recursive definitions cannot prevent self-referential sentences. 13 Gu p t a ' s i n s t a n c e i s me a n t t o r e v e a l t h e f a c t t h a t s o me r e s t r i c t i o n s h a v e t o b e l a i d d o w n f o r C o n v e n t i o n T. But it seems to also be relevant to the present discussion.
Philosophy and Culture, 2008
Many criticisms of the prevalent deflationary theories of truth stem from some mi s u n d e r s t... more Many criticisms of the prevalent deflationary theories of truth stem from some mi s u n d e r s t a n d i n g. C l a r i f i c a t i o n c a n b e f o u n d f r o m c o n s i d e r i n g Qu i n e ' s r e a s o n i n g o n t h e d i s q u o t a t i o n a l f e a t u r e o f t h e t r u t h p r e d i c a t e. Qu i n e ' s d i s q u o t a t i o n a l i s m a n d Ho r wi c h ' s mi n imalism are similar theses with respect to the concept of truth, though the difference between the choices of the primary truth bearers and the divergence in their accounts of meaning and reference are striking. Chapter Two is devoted to making plain Quin e ' s r e a s o n i n g r e g a r d i n g t h e disquotational concept of truth, and to constructing a disquotational theory of truth. Also in this chapter, the topic of how to enhance the deductive power of this theory is discussed. The following chapter aims to square Quine ' s t h e s e s o f i n s c r u t a b i l i t y o f reference and ontological relativity, with an account of the disquotational schema of reference. Whether or not a disquotational schema of reference and all its instances 12 Heck thinks what really does the trick of avoiding semantic paradoxes is the distinction between objectand metalanguages. But there is a good reason why appealing to the explicit definitions is necessary, viz., recursive definitions cannot prevent self-referential sentences. 13 Gu p t a ' s i n s t a n c e i s me a n t t o r e v e a l t h e f a c t t h a t s o me r e s t r i c t i o n s h a v e t o b e l a i d d o w n f o r C o n v e n t i o n T. But it seems to also be relevant to the present discussion.
Philosophia
One task of historians is to construct causal ascription of singular historicals between eminent ... more One task of historians is to construct causal ascription of singular historicals between eminent historical events. For instance, the controversy resulting from the confusing butterfly ballot of Florida’s year 2000 presidential election cost Gore his presidency. However, to research into these matters is inevitably to appeal to counterfactual deliberation in an epistemic fashion because the past is fixed. One standard idea is Max Weber’s, Weber causation: “ f was a cause of φ ” is assertable iff “¬ f □→ ¬ φ ” is assertable. Reiss ( 2009 ) gives an exceptionally good analysis of this topic and outlines historians’ reasoning, claiming that backtracking analyses of counterfactual conditionals employed in historical thought experiments is the signature of historical study of causal ascription of singular historicals. Nevertheless, he concludes that it is very difficult to reach an uncontroversial ascription for this sort in most cases. For this reason, he proposes to find difference-making relations that will suffice. The objective of this paper is to provide a more fine-grained, intervention-based, backtracking analysis of counterfactual conditionals upon which a more satisfactory account of causal ascription of singular historicals can be given. Reiss’ account of difference-making relation will be shown to be unsatisfactory. Moreover, a formal ground of the epistemology of historical thought experiments can be given, along with the constraints of this account resultant from the semantic features of non-transitivity and strong centering of counterfactual conditionals. Finally, some epistemological points of causal ascription of singular historicals and historical thought experiments will be given.
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Papers by Richard W. T. Hou