The communication of first person thoughts

François Récanati

pp. 95-102

in: John Biró, Petr Kotatko (eds), Frege, Berlin, Springer, 1995

Abstract

Every one is presented to himself in a particular and primitive way, in which he is presented to no one else. So, when Dr. Lauben thinks that he has been wounded, he will probably take as a basis this primitive way in which he is presented to himself. And only Dr. Lauben himself can grasp thoughts determined in this way. But now he may want to communicate with others. He cannot communicate a thought which he alone can grasp. Therefore, if he now says ‘I have been wounded’, he must use the ‘I’ in a sense which can be grasped by others, perhaps in the sense of ‘he who is speaking to you at this moment’… (Frege 1918-19, pp. 25-6)

Cited authors

Frege Gottlob