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 |