推理优先于表征--布兰顿推理主义语义学研究

Inference Prior to Representation——On Robert Brandom's Inferential Semantics

布兰顿的推理主义语义学主张,从推理而不是表征阐明概念使用,确立语言的意义,在此,推理优先于表征。通过对表征词汇的推理性阐明,布兰顿解释了语义内容的表征维度,维护了概念内容的客观性。布兰顿对推理实践优先性的强调,引发了以麦克道威尔为代表的哲学家们的责难与批判,由此引起是否"丧失世界"的哲学论争。本文力图表明,布兰顿如何为推理主义保留了一个"客观"的语义表征维度,从而避免"丧失世界"的指责。

Brandom＇s inferential semantics claims that the conceptual use should be articulated by inference rather than representation in order to confirm the meaning of the language. Here, the inference is prior to representation. By the inferential articulation of the representational vocabularies, Brandom gives an explanation to the semantic content of the representational dimension, preserving the objectivity of the conceptual content. Bran- dom＇ s emphasis on the priority of the inferential practices has aroused lots of criticisms, especially from John McDowell, so that there is a debate over whether Brandom＇s inferential semantics is ＂losing the world＂ or not. This article tries to show how Brandom preserves an ＂objective＂ semantic rep- resentational dimension to avoid the blame of ＂losing the world＂.