Abstract Objects and the Semantics of Natural Language

The common view in philosophy and linguistic semantics is that naturallanguage involves a great range of expressions that involve reference to abstract objects, such as properties, propositions, degrees, numbers,and expression types. This book argues that this view is mistaken: theontology of natural language at its core is particularist, involvingpervasive reference to various sorts of tropes (particularized properties) or trope-related entities, to pluralities (as many) of particulars, aswell as to 'variable objects'. In addition, expressions that appear to standfor abstract objects, the book argues, play in fact a nonreferential role. Only in the'periphery' of language, with 'reifying terms' such as the proposition that S, the fact that S, the property of being an N, the number eight, the word eight, and the truth value true, is reference to abstract objects possible.

Friederike Moltmann is senior researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and visiting researcher at NYU. She had previously taught both linguistics and philosophy at various universities in the US and the UK. She has published numerous articles in both linguistic and philosophical journals and is author of Parts and Wholes in Semantic (OUP, 1997).