Language and Coordination

Language and Coordination

Convention in the Theory of Meaning

Connotes Dog Dog Mind Idea of a Dog

Conventional Relation Dog Dog Mind Idea of a Dog

The Absurdity of Fit The “convention” that associates an idea with a word can’t just be due to the person using the word. This is because you can use a word wrongly, even if it’s in accord with your idea.

Personally Associates Dog Dog Mind Idea of a Dog

Still Means Dog Dog Mind Idea of a Dog

Connotes “Dagger” Dagger Mind Experience of a wound

Conventional Relation “Dagger” Dagger Mind Experience of a wound

Personally Associates “Dagger” Dagger Mind Experience of a wound

Still Means “Dagger” Dagger Mind Experience of a wound

Connotes Dog Dog Mind Definition of “Dog”

Conventional Relation Dog Dog Mind Definition of “Dog”

Personally Associates Dog Dog. n. A deer, a female deer. Dog Mind Definition of “Dog”

Still Means Dog Dog. n. A deer, a female deer. Dog Mind Definition of “Dog”

The Causal-Historical Theory Even in the case of the causal-historical theory (where there is no denotation), it seems as though what the community calls things is important.

Let’s call that place ‘Mogadishu’ Madagascu Madagishu Madagascar Madagasceir Denotation

The Use Theory What about the use theory? Doesn’t Horwich explicitly argue that meaning is not a conventional relation, but rather a natural one?

Indication Smoke means (indicates the presence of) fire.

The Use Theory means and AND

HorwichIs Wrong But Horwich is wrong: the connection between smoke and fire is grounded in the laws of the universe. The connection between a word and the concept it expresses is wholly conventional.

The Use Theory gift GIFT POISON gift

Game Theory

Decisions Sometimes what happens to us depends entirely on what we do, and not on what other people do. This doesn’t mean that decision making in such cases is easy or trivial. For example, suppose someone’s life is on the line, and it is my job to decide whether to convict or acquit them.

Decision under Risk

Decision Theory A number of factors are relevant here: • How likely do I think it is that the person committed the crime? • How much worse is it to convict an innocent person than to let a guilty one go? Decision theory is devoted to telling us how to act when we must make decisions under risk.

Games Sometimes what happens to us does depend on what others do as well. • Whether I have a good time tonight depends not just on whether I go to the party, but on whether other people come too. • Whether I win a chess match depends not just on the moves I make, but the moves my opponent makes as well. • Whether nuclear disarmament is good depends on whether my enemies disarm as well.

The Disarmament Game

Numbers In game theory we usually use numbers to represent the value of an outcome. I won’t go into how we assign the numbers… let’s say we just make them up.

Equilibria An equilibrium point is a square on the grid where no player can improve his position through unilateral deviation. Unilateral deviation is when one player changes strategy and all the other players do not.

The Disarmament Game ?

The Disarmament Game Equilibrium

Dominance A dominant strategy is one where a player gets a better outcome, regardless of what the other player does.

The Disarmament Game Dominant

The Disarmament Game Not Dominant

Equilibria as Solutions An equilibrium strategy is a “solution” to a game. It’s what we predict will happen, and it’s what “rational” players will choose. John Nash proved that there’s always an equilibrium (if we allow mixed strategies).

The Prisoner’s Dilemma Two people are arrested for a crime. The police do not have enough evidence to convict them of that crime, but they can convict them of a lesser crime, and send them to prison for a year.

Language and Coordination

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