It was published in the philosophy journal mind in 1905. In bertrand russell s hands, for example, the analysis of descriptions became a powerful tool for executing important epistemological and metaphysical projects. Curiously, russell omits proper names, but he would count them as denoting phrases. Termpaper on bertrand russells on denoting wolfgang unger. Russell s principle argument against frege is russell s discussion of grays elegy, which is su ciently confusing that it merits a separate handout. One of the classics of modern philosophy is bertrand russells essay, on denoting,1in which russell presents his theory according to which denoting phrases. The text also includes many of russell s own footnotes, cited and annotated below. Before i begin, this is really a general summery of what is going on in the text. Bertrand arthur william russell,18 may 18722 february 1970 was a briti. By a denoting phrase i mean a phrase such as any one of the following. About on denoting text via this link, graciously provided by the university of michigan.
In his writings, bertrand russell has exhibited three sorts of qualities rarely united in one philosopher. On denoting denoting phrases russell includes all kinds of quantified subject phrases a man, every man, some man etc. It is not comprehensive, but is meant to give you a rough idea on bertrand russels project. On reading on denoting russell is basically translating what he regards as problematic english sentences into a first order language, and then proposing an analysis using the tools of first order logic. Freges and russells own earlier theories of denoting phrases for failing to deal.
Pdf while russells concerns in developing the theory of descriptions were. On denoting, bya denoting phrase i mean a phrase such as any one of the following. In it, russell introduces and advocates his theory of denoting phrases, according to which definite descriptions and other denoting phrases. By a denioting phrase i mean a phrase such as any one of the following. Collected papers of bertrand russell as well as russells unpublished papers between principles of. In on denoting, bertrand russell describes three problems involving the use of definite descriptions which he claims any good theory of how. In this critical paper i discuss the theory of definite descriptions which russell presented in his paper on denoting from 1905. In his 1905 paper on denoting1 bertrand russell put forward his famous theory of descriptionsa theory which has been.
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