Generalized reference

Abstract

Medieval logic defined reference as a relation between language and objects in the world. Recently, however, the term “representational token” has been used instead of language (Reimer and Michaelson 2014). This allows for reference with and without language. In a similar vein, Database Semantics (DBS) has implemented concept-based reference as a matching between two contents. If a content is attached to a language surface it is called the literal meaning 1 of the surface. Referring with a content (as a representational token), regardless of whether or not it is attached to a surface, leads to a generalized notion of reference (Sect. 6.3). An example of reference without language is identifying a current nonlanguage recognition with something seen before. Another example is identifying a nonlanguage recognition with an earlier language content, e.g. something read (for example, in a guide book) or heard about. In addition to the concept-based reference mechanism of (i) symbols (We follow the terminology used by Peirce (CP 2.228, 2.229, 5.473) for his theory of signs.) (Sect. 6), natural language uses the reference mechanisms of (ii) indexicals (Sect. 7) based on pointers, and of (iii) names (Sect. 8) based on acts of generalized baptism and coreference by address. This paper systematically reconstructs the mechanisms of reference as they function with and without language in an agent-based computational framework.