Volume-XI, Issue-III, May 2025 |
Pragmatics and The Logic of Presupposition Dr. Siddique Alam Beg, Asst. Prof, Dept. of Philosophy, Raiganj University, Raiganj, West Bengal, India |
Received: 28.05.2025 | Accepted: 30.05.2025 | Published Online: 31.05.2025 | Page No: 660-666 | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.11.issue.03W.091 | |||||||
ABSTRACT | ||
This article delves into the pragmatic understanding of presupposition and reconceptualises it as a propositional attitude grounded in the conversational interplay of shared knowledge, setting it apart from the semantic interpretations offered by P.F. Strawson, and Bas C. van Fraassen. Strawson’s logico-semantic approach highlights the intriguing notion of truth-value gaps that emerge when referential conditions are not satisfied. In contrast, Max Black weaves in the pragmatic dimensions of performance and context, while van Fraassen articulates presupposition as a semantic relation through the lens of super valuations. Stalnaker’s pragmatic framework, which focuses on the assumptions held by speakers and the process of accommodation, provides a nuanced and insightful understanding of presupposition phenomena. The framework includes the complexities of the projection problem and various triggers such as factive verbs and anaphoric particles. By anchoring assumptions in rational collaborative actions, the pragmatic perspective adeptly encapsulates the subtleties of context and the intricacies of dialogue more proficiently than semantic approaches, reinforced by its alignment with Gricean principles and empirical research on discourse. This examination contends that the practical perspective offers a more effective structure for comprehending presupposition in natural language. Keywords: Pragmatic Account, Semantic Account, Common Ground |