Contextual Meaning and Theory Dependence

Abstract

An overview of linguistic context dependence is given and it is argued that an approach is needed that considers interpretation an inference from truthconditionally incomplete to more speci€c contents. However, the theory dependence of idiolects and concepts is another context dependence that poses philosophical problems. It is argued that these are worst for global holism of idiolects and concepts. Since local holism is more tenable, and rational agents also need to have the ability to compartmentalize mutually incompatible theories, the theory dependence of meaning is less problematic than it might appear at €rst glance.