Satellite events

Inferentialism

Igor Douven (CNRS, IPHST, University of Paris)

Abstract: According to Inferentialism, the truth of a conditional requires the existence of a compelling argument from the conditional's antecedent together with contextually determined background premises to its consequent, where the antecedent is pivotal in the argument. In my talk, I start by outlining the position, emphasizing how phenomena that were thought to belong to the pragmatics of conditionals can be explained semantically, on the supposition of Inferentialism. I then give an overview of the empirical support that the position has garnered over the past year. I conclude by responding to some criticisms that have been leveled at it.