Philosophical and Methodological Status of the Two-Dimensional Semantics (Based on the Discussion between Chalmers and Soames)

Two-dimensional semantics is a family of semantic theories whose roots are derived from intensional semantics. These theories have much in common in terms of analysing the language of statements, but some of them diverge in the domain of the value of this analysis for other areas of philosophy and the possibility of applying this tool to all language units, and not just to a certain part of it. One of the most prominent representatives of this subject area is the famous Australian philosopher David Chalmers with his project of epistemic two-dimensional semantics.  The basis of two-dimensional semantics is the idea of ​​the existence of two possible ways on the basis of which the extension of some expression depends on the state of the world. First, the actual extension of an expression depends on the actual world in which this expression is pronounced. Secondly, the dependence of the counterfactual extension of the expression on the character and properties of the counterfactual world, concerning which the expression is evaluated. This approach is designed to solve not only the issues of language philosophy, but the problems of other areas of philosophy, for example the philosophy of mind. Some researchers like Scott Soames believe that attempt to use two-dimensional semantics to explain some topics of the philosophy of language turn into a failure. This concerns examples with necessary a posteriori , proper names and different modalities. Representatives of two-dimensional semantics note that critics misinterpret the main points of two-dimensional semantics.