@article{c03f6742e35a4e11ad9503fd52b60977,
title = "A new look at the problem of rule-following: A generic perspective",
abstract = "The purpose of this paper is to look at the problem of rule-following-notably discussed by Kripke (Wittgenstein on rules and private language, 1982) and Wittgenstein (Philosophical investigations, 1953)-from the perspective of the study of generics. Generics are sentences that express generalizations that tolerate exceptions. I first suggest that meaning ascriptions be viewed as habitual sentences, which are a sub-set of generics. I then seek a proper semantic analysis for habitually construed meaning sentences. The quantificational approach is rejected, due to its persistent difficulties. Instead, a cognitive approach is adopted, where psychological considerations of meaning attributors play a crucial role. This account is then compared with the picture of meaning offered by Kripke and Wittgenstein, respectively. I show how this fresh way of conceiving of meaning sentences respects some of their insights while avoiding some of the drawbacks, and serves to improve the framework in which the current debate and inquiry about rule-following are conducted.",
keywords = "Generics, Habitual sentences, Kripke, Rule-following, Skeptical argument, Skeptical solution",
author = "Cheng, {Kai Yuan}",
note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgements I owe a debt of gratitude to Sarah-Jane Leslie, John Heil, Michael Glanzberg, and Bernhard Nickel for invaluable feedback on earlier drafts. I would also like to thank Wan-Chuan Fang, Jussi Haukioja, Frank Hindriks, Mark Johnston, Martin Kusch, Cheng-hung Lin, Philip Pettit, Norman Teng, Christian Wenzel, and an anonymous referee for helpful discussions and/or comments. An earlier version was presented at an International Conference on Wittgenstein{\textquoteright}s Philosophy held by National Taiwan University, where I received useful feedback from the audience. The paper was expanded and completed during my research visits at Academia Sinica in Taiwan and Princeton University, and sponsored by the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC 96-2411-H-194-009-MY3). I am grateful to these Institutes for the generous support.",
year = "2011",
month = aug,
doi = "10.1007/s11098-010-9561-9",
language = "English",
volume = "155",
pages = "1--21",
journal = "Philosophical Studies",
issn = "0031-8116",
publisher = "Springer Netherlands",
number = "1",
}