#Direct Reference

[vethbrenatto]

Campaign 2, Episode 51 “A Test of Pride” // The Legend of Vox Machina Season 2, Episode 9 “A Test of Pride”

Inspired by @tameila​‘s tags:

[omegaphilosophia]

Theories of Direct Reference

Theories of direct reference focus on how certain linguistic expressions (such as proper names, demonstratives, and indexicals) directly refer to objects or entities in the world without the need for intervening descriptive content. Here are some of the main theories and approaches within direct reference philosophy:

1. Causal Theory of Reference

Key Proponent: Saul Kripke (with contributions from Hilary Putnam and others).

Summary: The causal theory of reference holds that a name refers to an object by virtue of a causal chain of communication that links the name to the object. The chain begins when the name is originally assigned to an object, and subsequent speakers refer to that object through this causal link, even if they don't possess full descriptive knowledge of the object.

Example: The name "Aristotle" refers to the historical figure Aristotle because there is a causal history connecting the use of the name to the actual person, regardless of whether the speaker knows all details about Aristotle.

Key Features:

Rigid Designators: A name refers to the same object in all possible worlds where that object exists.

No Descriptive Content: Reference is direct and not mediated by a description or mental representation.

2. Direct Reference Theory of Names

Key Proponent: Ruth Barcan Marcus.

Summary: Ruth Barcan Marcus advocated for a direct reference theory where proper names refer directly to objects, not through descriptive meanings but as "tags" or labels that identify the object. This theory refutes the descriptive view of names put forth by philosophers like Bertrand Russell, who argued that names function as shorthand for descriptions.

Example: "Venus" refers to the planet regardless of any specific description (e.g., "the brightest planet visible in the sky"). The name refers to the object directly.

Key Features:

Rigid Reference: Like Kripke's rigid designators, names refer to the same object across all possible worlds.

Meaning vs. Reference: The meaning of a name is not determined by descriptive content but by its reference to an actual object.

3. Kripke’s Rigid Designator Theory

Key Proponent: Saul Kripke.

Summary: Kripke introduced the concept of rigid designators, arguing that proper names are rigid because they refer to the same object in every possible world where the object exists. His famous "modal argument" suggested that names must refer directly because they maintain their reference even when considering counterfactual or hypothetical situations.

Example: In every possible world where Aristotle exists, the name "Aristotle" refers to the same person, even if in that world he may not have been a philosopher.

Key Features:

Distinction Between Necessity and Contingency: Kripke distinguished between necessary and contingent truths, using direct reference theory to argue that some facts (like "Aristotle is Aristotle") are necessarily true, while others (like "Aristotle was a philosopher") are contingently true.

4. Millianism

Key Proponent: John Stuart Mill (as an originator).

Summary: In Mill’s theory, a proper name has no meaning or descriptive content but serves only to refer to the object it names. This position, called Millianism, views proper names as "denotative" terms that only serve the function of pointing to their referent.

Example: The name "Homer" refers directly to a specific individual (if such a person existed) and does not carry any additional meaning or descriptive properties.

Key Features:

No Connotation: Names are devoid of descriptive meaning and refer purely to their objects.

Contrast with Descriptive Theories: This approach contrasts with theories that associate names with sets of descriptions.

5. Putnam’s Twin Earth Thought Experiment

Key Proponent: Hilary Putnam.

Summary: In his famous "Twin Earth" thought experiment, Putnam argued that the meaning of certain terms (such as natural kind terms like "water") is determined not by descriptive content but by external factors in the world. This supports the view that reference is a matter of causal-historical connections rather than internal mental descriptions.

Example: On Twin Earth, where "water" looks like water but is chemically different (XYZ instead of H2O), the word "water" on Earth refers directly to H2O, not to XYZ, even if it has the same superficial properties.

Key Features:

Semantic Externalism: The meaning and reference of terms depend on the external world and the environment, not just the mental state of the speaker.

Natural Kinds: Terms like "water" refer directly to the kind in question, based on their real essence, even if speakers are not aware of all its properties.

6. Kaplan’s Theory of Indexicals and Demonstratives

Key Proponent: David Kaplan.

Summary: Kaplan extended direct reference theory to indexicals (e.g., "I", "now", "here") and demonstratives (e.g., "this", "that"). Kaplan argued that these terms directly refer to objects or individuals in the context of utterance, without needing descriptive content.

Example: The word "I" refers directly to the person speaking, without the need for a description of who they are.

Key Features:

Context-Sensitivity: The reference of indexicals and demonstratives depends on the context of utterance, but their reference is direct and does not rely on descriptions.

Character and Content: Kaplan introduced a distinction between the character of a term (a rule that determines reference based on context) and the content (the actual referent).

7. Donnellan’s Referential/Attributive Distinction

Key Proponent: Keith Donnellan.

Summary: Donnellan distinguished between the referential and attributive uses of descriptions. In the referential use, a speaker uses a description to directly refer to a specific object (even if the description is incorrect). In the attributive use, the description is used to identify whatever object fits the description.

Example: If someone says, "The man drinking a martini is my friend," they might refer to a specific individual (referential use), even if the man isn’t actually drinking a martini. In this case, the speaker’s intention determines reference, not the truth of the description.

Key Features:

Referential Use: In the referential use, the description is used as a tool to refer directly to an object, even if the description is inaccurate.

Attributive Use: In the attributive use, the description serves to identify an object that fits the description.

Theories of direct reference emphasize that certain terms (especially names, indexicals, and demonstratives) refer directly to objects in the world without the mediation of descriptive content. These theories challenge earlier views that tied reference to descriptions or mental representations, offering a view in which context, causal chains, and external factors play key roles in determining reference. Major contributions come from Kripke's rigid designators, Kaplan's theory of indexicals, and Putnam's causal theory of natural kind terms.

[24bughours]

Happy pride, have a half formed idea i had at 2 am

[akanemnon]

So much for flirting your way out. Eh, Frisk?

[rendevok]

Act I ~ The Prince

A tapestry for Let No One Sleep by @azalawa-scroggs on ao3

[dunmeshistash]

Dungeon Meshi Information Sources

Dungeon Meshi has several worldbuilding details and extra comics in different publications and I think they get pretty hard to keep track of so I wanted to make a guide and explain what is what for people that maybe want to look into it themselves!

The Main Information sources are:

Daydream Hour 2-5: Sketch compilations and extra comics by Ryoko Kui with commentary, which can be found on EH Scans blog translated, and also in mangadex in between the manga chapters (The first daydream hour isn't dungeon meshi related)

The Complete Daydream Hour: Or more specifically "Ryoko Kui Doodle Book Daydream Hour" Released in january 2024 it still hasn't been fully translated into english. This version compiles extras and sketches from daydream hour 1-5 along with new content. Some of the exclusive comics have been translated and can be found on reddit and bato.to but the full thing is yet to be translated.

Delicious in Dungeon World Guide: The Adventurer's Bible (2021): A guide by Ryoko Kui that compiles information about the characters, monsters and the world. An official english version is available. It was released in february 2021 and has information pertinent for up to chapter 71 from the manga. It contains extra comics for all the main characters and for all the human/demi human races. The extras that talk about side character's backstories are from this book and the characters section has been translated by EH Scans (Also on mangadex)

Delicious in Dungeon World Guide: Adventurer's Bible Complete Edition (2024): Released in february 2024 and still untranslated, this version of the Adventurer's Bible has information updated for the end of the manga, there's even more extras and lots of comics about post-canon. Some of them are being translated and posted into reddit but I haven't seen them anywhere else. The raw is available on bato.to

Manga and Ryoko Kui's Blog: Some of it are from the manga itself, like Monster Tidbits and other Harta Magazine Extras (Where dungeon meshi is published) and also from the author's own personal blog. Lots of the drawings in her blog were deleted with the publishing of the complete daydream hour but you can still see what was unpublished using the wayback machine.

Blu-ray: With the release of the second bluray its clear that there will be extra content with each new one, there's "what if" extras and cover art by Ryoko Kui, you can check it the cover and info in the tag here.

I hope this helps somehow! It was pretty confusing for myself when I first started looking for more extras after finishing the manga.

The things I post here are all based on one of these and I try to put in the tags what the source is!

[theluckygroundhog]

they didn't practice motorcycle safety .. paid the ultimate price (ego)

inspired by @quiverymango 's photo of the sonic movie toys (below cut)

[demigods-posts]

something about percy nearly dying at luke's hand at the end of tlt ruffles my bones. because imagine feeling like a burden to anyone who dared to care for you. imagine blaming yourself for the death of your mother. imagine grieving in black and white amid a world of color. and then an older brother sees you for all of your sorrow and pain. your cries for help that go unanswered. your longing for a reason to breathe again. and becoming someone you look forward to confiding in when the dust settles. only to discover that their source of light was merely a flame. and the summer air was always meant to burn you alive. truly haunting.

[111papilio]

i guess you could say it’s “hard to explain”

[luckyjorabbit]

Soooo... I started reading One Piece again teehee *twirls hair* ( 6w6)

[hajihiko]

The beginning of something really excellent

(Directly inspired by this post by @cyancees )

[fl00mie]

daisy bell gives me so many fatal error vibes that i can't describe it

swap sans by popcornpr1nce fatal_error by @xedramon

[yumenosakiacademy]

[iliothermia]

Where do you find references or research to create all the unique patterns in your compositions and the outfits of your characters?

When I do reference, mainly books on Greek/Jewish textiles, architecture and illuminations. Books are expensive though 💀 I'll add some online resources!!

Skies of Parchment, Seas of Ink (link to scanned version)

Ceremonial Synagogue Textiles: From Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Italian Communities

The Jewish virtual museum has some resources

This folk costume blog is a great resource for Greek regional clothing, but also folk clothing and embroidery in general. I love this blog

I do end up making a lot of patterns based on my own memories of everything I've seen, too though. Hopefully some of those resources will be helpful!

[sqlatoon]

no side order trailer? oh wow i- i need a minute to think about this...

[talesfromthecrypts]

Interview With the Vampire 2.04 (2024) // Vampire's Kiss (1988)