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Meaning Meeting - Caleb Kendrick / Why desire-ascriptions seem non-monotonic

PhD Philosophy student Caleb Kendrick, smiling at the camera.

Meaning Meeting - Caleb Kendrick / Why desire-ascriptions seem non-monotonic

Linguistics | Philosophy Thursday, September 14, 2023 2:00 pm - 3:15 pm Marie Mount Hall, 3416J (Wimbledon)

Thursday September 14, Caleb Kendrick from Philosophy leads the Meaning Meeting with discussion of his recent work on the logic of desire-ascriptions. 

Abstract

There's compelling reason to think desire ascriptions are monotonic. It explains why certain conjunctions are infelicitous and it explains why negative, though not positive, desire ascriptions license NPIs. However, monotonicity also leads to a number of paradoxical consequences like the Samaritan Paradox. The goal of this talk is to explore a minimally non-monotonic semantics for desire ascriptions where non-monotonicity arises as a by-product of focus-sensitivity.

Add to Calendar 09/14/23 14:00:00 09/14/23 15:15:00 America/New_York Meaning Meeting - Caleb Kendrick / Why desire-ascriptions seem non-monotonic

Thursday September 14, Caleb Kendrick from Philosophy leads the Meaning Meeting with discussion of his recent work on the logic of desire-ascriptions. 

Abstract

There's compelling reason to think desire ascriptions are monotonic. It explains why certain conjunctions are infelicitous and it explains why negative, though not positive, desire ascriptions license NPIs. However, monotonicity also leads to a number of paradoxical consequences like the Samaritan Paradox. The goal of this talk is to explore a minimally non-monotonic semantics for desire ascriptions where non-monotonicity arises as a by-product of focus-sensitivity.

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