Gricean Program: Conventional Regularities and Linguistic Meaning

Defining Expression Types in the Gricean Program

Explain the definitions provided regarding the meaning of expression types within the perspective of the Gricean program. Note that these definitions rely on the feature of self-preservation through conventional regularities.

The Nature of Conventional Regularity

A conventional regularity in a community is considered conventional because alternative regularities could exist that would meet the same common interests. The members of the community did not act according to these regularities before they existed; therefore, the regularity was not originally conventional. What led them to continue this regularity was the certainty of achieving their goals.

Conditions for Conventionality

The self-preservation of a conventional regularity is satisfied when specific conditions are met. These conditions include:

• Each member of the community follows the regularity.
• Every member believes that others follow the regularity.
• The belief that others follow the regularity provides a reason for each member to adhere to it.
• Each member prefers the situation where everyone follows the regularity over a situation where exceptions exist.

In summary: once people follow the regularity and believe that others do as well, each individual has a reason to persevere. This leads to the self-preservation of the regularity.

Gricean Program and Linguistic Meaning

The first part of the Gricean program considers fundamental cases of non-natural signs in situations where a speaker means something occasionally. Another part of the program suggests that there may be signs that do not involve natural linguistic conventions.

Characterizing Timeless Meaning

To understand linguistic expressions that have a specific meaning not linked to any particular occasion of use, it is necessary to characterize the timeless meaning of the expression type based on the concept of occasional meaning.

Lewis and the Convention of Truthfulness

Philosophers following the Gricean program often characterize timeless meaning based on the concept of convention. For example, David Lewis proposes a convention of truthfulness and trust:

• Truthfulness: The speaker utters a sign only if they believe that p.
• Trust: Upon hearing a sign, the audience believes that p.

According to Lewis, a sign conventionally means that p in a community if and only if the members are governed by this convention.