Theoria: An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science

Volume 27, Issue 1, January 2012

Edouard Machery
Pages 37-54

Expertise and Intuitions about Reference

Many philosophers hold that experts’ semantic intuitions are more reliable and provide better evidence than lay people’s intuitions – a thesis commonly called “the Expertise Defense.” Focusing on the intuitions about the reference of proper names, this article critically assesses the Expertise Defense.