Downplaying the change of subject objection to conceptual engineering.

Conceptual engineering projects have been criticized for creating discontinuities of subject-matter and, as a result, discontinuities in inquiries: call this the Change of Subject objection. In this paper, I explore a way of dealing with the objection that clarifies its scope and eventually downplay...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Inquiry Vol. 68; no. 9; pp. 2942 - 2966
Autor principal: Belleri, Delia
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Oct2025
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:Conceptual engineering projects have been criticized for creating discontinuities of subject-matter and, as a result, discontinuities in inquiries: call this the Change of Subject objection. In this paper, I explore a way of dealing with the objection that clarifies its scope and eventually downplays it. First, two strategies aimed at saving subject-continuity are examined and found wanting: Herman Cappelen's appeal to topics, and the account in terms of concept function. Second, the idea is introduced that one can begin an object-level inquiry either with a 'semantically conservative' approach, whereby semantic change is not permitted, or with a 'semantically progressive' approach, whereby semantic change is permitted. This distinction helps one significantly downplay the Change of Subject objection.