Abstract

AVILA CANAMARES, Ignacio. Attention, reference, and inscrutability. Estud.filos [online]. 2014, n.50, pp.31-51. ISSN 0121-3628.

In this paper I discuss John Campbell's criticism of the Quinean thesis of the inscrutability of reference. First I claim that Campbell's arguments miss the point because he overlooks the link Quine draws between reference, quantification, and ontology. Then I discuss another line of thought against inscrutability that appeals to Campbell's relational view on attention. Finally, I suggest that this line -though insufficient and in need of a complement- brings out the fact that behind the views held by these authors on the topic of reference there are important philosophical ideals which should be discussed.

Keywords : Quine; Campbell; inscrutability of reference; relational theory of attention.

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