De Dicto vs. De Re: Understanding Linguistic Reference

Overview

The terms de dicto and de re are Latin phrases used in philosophy of language and linguistics to distinguish between two ways of understanding statements that involve modal or intentional contexts.

Key Concepts

De dicto (of the word/statement): This refers to statements where a property is attributed to a noun phrase as it is expressed in words or as a concept.

De re (of the thing/matter): This refers to statements where a property is attributed to the actual thing or entity that the noun phrase refers to, independent of the specific wording.

Deep Dive

Consider the sentence: “John believes that the President of the United States is a good leader.”

• De dicto interpretation: John believes that the phrase “the President of the United States” refers to a good leader. He might not know who the President is, but he believes whoever holds that title is good.
• De re interpretation: John believes that the actual person who is the President of the United States (e.g., Joe Biden) is a good leader.

Applications

This distinction is crucial for analyzing:

• Beliefs and intentions
• Modal logic (necessity and possibility)
• Attribution of properties in language

Challenges & Misconceptions

A common misconception is that one interpretation is always primary. The context often dictates which reading is more appropriate. Ambiguity arises when the intended reference is unclear.

FAQs

What is the core difference?

De dicto focuses on the linguistic expression, while de re focuses on the actual entity.

When is de dicto used?

Often in contexts of belief, desire, or reporting speech where the specific wording matters.

When is de re used?

Typically when discussing objective facts or properties directly applicable to an object.