Zoltán Vecsey:
Two Forms of Context Shifting
Abstract:
According to the Double Index Theory the evaluation of indexical expressions requires a two-stage process. In the first stage indexicals are interpreted in their actual context of occurrence. Then the results of the first stage are evaluated with respect to a possible circumstance of evaluation. Kaplan (1989a) claimed that circumstances could be shifted during the evaluation process, but he denied the possibility of shifted contexts. Recently some researchers argue that contexts may be shifted by sentential operators, while others insist that contexts might be shifted freely. In this paper I will argue that both forms of context shifting might be supported by empirical data. It will be shown, however, that nearly all relevant conceptions of context shifting rely on an non-clarified notion of ‘datum’.
