Definite Descriptions

Some articles on definite descriptions, description, definite description, descriptions:

Presupposition Triggers - Definite Descriptions
... Definite descriptions are phrases of the form "the X" where X is a noun phrase ... The description is said to be proper when the phrase applies to exactly one object, and conversely, it is said to be improper when either there exist more than one potential ... In conventional speech, definite descriptions are implicitly assumed to be proper, hence such phrases trigger the presupposition that the referent is unique and existent ...
Theory Of Descriptions - Definite Descriptions
... See also Definite description Russell analyzes definite descriptions similarly to indefinite descriptions, except that the individual is now uniquely specified ... Take as an example of a definite description the sentence "the current Emperor of Germany is gray" ... Thus, a definite description (of the general form 'the F is G') becomes the following existentially quantified phrase in classic symbolic logic (where 'x' and 'y' are variables and 'F' and 'G' are ...
Descriptivist Theory Of Names - The Descriptive Theory and Its Merits
... for every proper name p, there is some collection of descriptions D associated with p that constitute the meaning of p ... hold that the proper name Saul Kripke is synonymous with the collection of descriptions such as the man who wrote Naming and Necessity a person who was born on November 13, 1940 in ... of the name Saul Kripke to be that collection of descriptions and takes the referent of the name to be the thing that satisfies all or most of those descriptions ...
Bertrand Russell's Views On Philosophy - Philosophical Work - Philosophy of Language
... A significant contribution to philosophy of language is Russell's theory of descriptions, set out in On Denoting (Mind, 1905) ... Russell's Theory of Definite Descriptions enables the sentence to be construed as meaningful but false, without commitment to the existence of any present King of France ... The problem is general to what are called "definite descriptions." Normally this includes all terms beginning with "the," and sometimes includes names, like "Walter Scott." (This point is quite contentious ...

Famous quotes containing the words descriptions and/or definite:

    “Our Lamaze instructor . . . assured our class . . . that our cervix muscles would become “naturally numb” as they swelled and stretched, and deep breathing would turn the final explosions of pain into “manageable discomfort.” This descriptions turned out to be as accurate as, say a steward advising passengers aboard the Titanic to prepare for a brisk but bracing swim.”
    —Mary Kay Blakely (20th century)

    “Destiny is an absolutely definite and inexorable ruler. Physical ability and moral determination count for nothing. It is impossible to perform the simplest act when the gods say “no.” I have no idea how they bring pressure to bear on such occasions; I only know that it is irresistible.”
    —Aleister Crowley (1875–1947)