Singular Thought and Mental Files

The notion of singular (or de re) thought has become central in philosophy of mind and language, yet there is still little consensus concerning the best way to think about the nature of singular thought. Coinciding with recognition of the need for more clarity about the notion, there has been a surge of interest in the concept of a mental file as a way to understand what is distinctive about singular thought. What isn't always clear, however, is what mental files are meant to be, and why we should believe that thoughts that employ them are singular as opposed to descriptive. This volume brings together original chapters by leading scholars which aim to examine and evaluate the viability of the mental files framework for theorizing about singular thought.

The first section of the volume addresses the central issues of the definition and nature of singular thought, as well as how it relates to the notion of a mental file. The second section addresses the legitimacy of the mental files conception of singular thought by assessing the philosophical motivations or the purported empirical support for the view, or by laying out a specific version of it. The third section helps to clarify both the notion of a mental file and the mental files conception of singular thought by focusing on their role in explaining de jure coreference in thought and language. The volume then concludes with a final section that casts doubt on the mental files conception and the legitimacy of the file-theoretic framework more generally.

Rachel Goodman, University of Illinois-Chicago,James Genone, Minerva Schools at KGI,Nick Kroll, Franklin and Marshall College

Rachel Goodman is Assistant Professor in the Philosophy Department at the University of Illinois-Chicago. She is a philosopher of mind and language working on issues attached to mental and linguistic reference, with a special interest in the question of whether there are singular thoughts.



James Genone is Associate Dean of Academic Programs at Minerva Schools at KGI. His training is in the philosophy of mind and cognitive science, and he has both taught and engaged in research on topics such as the nature of sensory consciousness, semantic reference, personal identity, and perceptual knowledge.



Nick Kroll is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Program Chair of Scientific & Philosophical Studies of Mind at Franklin and Marshall College. He works in the philosophy of language and metaphysics, focusing on the nature of potentiality and process.

1. Introduction, Rachel Goodman and James Genone
PART 1: The Nature of Singular Thought
2. Varieties of Singularity, Mark Sainsbury
3. Descriptive Names and Singular Thought: Reflections on the Evans/Kaplan Debate, Marga Reimer
4. Content and the Explanatory Role of Experience, Jeff Speaks
PART 2: The Mental Files Conception of Singular Thought
5. Singular Thought, Russellianism, and Mental Files, Jeffrey C. King
6. The Mental Files Theory of Singular Thought: A Psychological Perspective6, Michael Murez, Joulia Smortchkova, and Brent Strickland
7. Singular Thoughts, John Perry
PART 3: Mental Files and De Jure Coreference
8. Coreference de jure, Francois Recanati
9. De Jure Anti-Coreference and Mental Files, N.A. Pinillos
10. Definite Reports of Indefinites, Samuel Cumming
PART 4: Criticisms of the File Framework
11. Cognitive Focus, Imogen Dickie
12. Embedding Language in the World, Ruth Millikan