Organon F

Volume 30, August 2023, Issue 3, Pages 281–309

ISSN 2585-7150 (online) ISSN 1335-0668 (print)

In the following paper I propose an argument against internalism about thought content. After a brief preview of the recent debate between Sarah Sawyer and Åsa Wikforss, the paper outlines the central issue in their discussion. I show that, even if Wikforss’ objections against Sawyer are granted, externalism about thought content can still prevail. For my argument, I use Wikforss` own objection against externalism and show how, if accepted, it binds one to the mythical figure of the perfect speaker – an infallible creature that possesses complete understanding of all of her concepts.

Externalism; thought content; concept mastery; understanding; perfect speakers.

Author

Madelaine Angelova-Elchinova

Affiliation

Sofia University

Address

Department of Philosophy, Sofia University, 115 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, Sofia, Bulgaria

E-mail

m.angelova-elchinova@phls.uni-sofia.bg 

Received

12 December 2022

Revised

15 August 2023

Accepted

12 September 2023

Publishers

Institute of Philosophy of the Slovak Academy of Sciences

Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences

APA

Angelova-Elchinova, M. (2023). Perfect Thinkers, Perfect Speakers and Internalism about Thought Content. Organon F, 30(3), 281–309. https://doi.org/10.31577/orgf.2023.30304

Chicago

Angelova-Elchinova, Madelaine. 2023. "Perfect Thinkers, Perfect Speakers and Internalism about Thought Content." Organon F 30 (3): 281–309. https://doi.org/10.31577/orgf.2023.30304

Harvard

Angelova-Elchinova, M. (2023). Perfect Thinkers, Perfect Speakers and Internalism about Thought Content. Organon F, 30(3), pp. 281–309. https://doi.org/10.31577/orgf.2023.30304

© Madelaine Angelova-Elchinova

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