PHIL276 Language in Society
RACIAL epithets like ‘ k * ke ’ and ‘ n *** er ’ are words which are offensive , target specific ethnic groups , and are generally seen as taboo . Based on this definition , a philosophy of epithets must adequately explain why racial epithets are hurtful to the groups that they target , and help inform a legal framework for legislating racist hate speech . Employing Fregean minimalism , I will explain why racial epithets should be understood pragmatically , due to their ability to meet these adequacy conditions in a way which is preferable to alternative philosophies of language . I will do this by first , in section 1 , explaining Gottlob Frege ’ s philosophy of language , then in section 2 I will explain how Frege ’ s philosophy of language can help us to understand the use of racial epithets , then I will respond to an objection in section 3 .
Section 1
Frege ’ s philosophy of language explains how ordinary language is successful in communicating thoughts from speaker to listener . For Frege , terms and sentences express a sense and a reference . The sense for Frege is the linguistic sign which points to or acts as the “ mode of presentation ” for a referent ( Frege , 1948 , p . 210 ). Simply put , the sense is how we share a concept or thought which is out in the world , through speech ,
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such as uttering the word ‘ dog ’ or ‘ hat ’, which allows the listener to be acquainted with the object that the speaker is trying to express . The reference , for Frege , is the “ object perceivable by the senses ” ( ibid ., p . 212 ) which is indicated or identified by the sense , such as a dog or hat . To illustrate this , the phrase “ the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom ” is a sense , as it is a phrase which allows both the speaker and the listener to understand and contemplate Theresa May [ PM at time of writing ], the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom ( the reference ).
Linked to the sense-reference distinction is Frege ’ s notion of colouring ( Färbung in German ). Colouring , shading , lighting or tone , describes the subjective emotions and feelings attached to words or phrases ( Dummett , 1973 , p . 84 ). As Frege describes it , the colouring is that which is neither ‘ true ’ nor ‘ false ’ contained in a sentence , but that which is subjective ( Frege , [ 1906 ] 1997 , p . 300 ). Frege explains his theory of colouring by noting how the terms “ horse ”, “ steed ”, “ cart-horse ” and “ mare ” all share the same reference , namely a horse , but each individual sense has a unique “ assertive force ” and “ mood ” attached to it ( Frege , 1956 , p . 296 ). This means that if I were to say “ the horse is black ”,