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Title: Multiplicitas und distinctio als charakteristisches Thema der logica moderna innerhalb der ars disputationis
Author(s): SCHULTHESS, Peter
Journal: Recherches de Théologie et Philosophie Médiévales
Volume: 76    Issue: 2   Date: 2009   
Pages: 287-334
DOI: 10.2143/RTPM.76.2.2045808

Abstract :
Ambiguity and its distinctio or divisio is part of a theory of significatio that deals with sense and reference. Like deductio, or more generally disputatio, it is a core issue in the logica moderna. This distinctio essentially amounts to analysis or, more specifically, disambiguation of language, signification and arguments, in order to secure smooth disputation. This distinctio is found at the root of many developments and key issues in the logica moderna. It opens the way for the theoretical dependency of significatio, lexical meaning and referential relations, and hence of truth and validity, on propositional co-text as well as on situational and pragmatic context. Additionally, the project of disambiguation motivates not just clarification of logical and grammatical syntax, but also identifying differences between them. With that, important steps are taken towards identifying the logical form of assertions, i.e., sub-sentential structure relevant for inferential potential and truth. Accordingly, divisio and distinctio are assigned tasks that are today performed by logical formalisation: providing transparent logical form to linguistic expressions by means of truth-conditional analysis. We thus have reason to see disambiguation and reflection on ambiguity, rather than the contextual approach, as the driving force behind the most important developments within the logica moderna, including the contextual approach itself.

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