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> Owen wrote:
> > Roberto Vescarelli wrote:
> > (a) there are in common language such words like 'Father Christmas' used to
> > denote non-existing objects
> I don't agree that 'Santa Clause' or 'Father Christmas' denote
> anything at all.
> They are referred to only by the predicates that describe them. They
> have no objectual reference.
There are two competing theories of reference, both of which are
coherently defensible:
(1) If a does not exist, then "a" refers to nothing (i.e. then "a" is
irreferential).
(2) If a does not exist, then "a" refers to something, but to something
nonexistent.
#PH
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