An Evaluation on Language, Reference and Meaning Based on Bertrand Russell

Abstract

This study is concerned with Bertrand Russell's ideas on reference and meaning, following a brief overview of the reception of his views on language. Meaning, which is one of the important problems of the philosophy of language, has been a subject that Russell has frequently emphasized. When we look at the philosophy of language from a semantic perspective, we are faced with three types of theories. These are: 'Referentialist', ‘Mentalist’ and ‘Behaviorist’ theories. In this context, by considering Russell's concept of reference, it was determined which theory he was closer to. In this sense, Russell's article "On Denoting" was utilized while trying to explain his theory. The aforementioned study explains expressions without referents through Russell's paradox example of “The current King of France is bald”. In this way, a discussion was carried out within the framework of Russell's views on language, meaning and logic.