Semantic Minimalism

Semantic Minimalism is a theory in philosophy of language that suggests the meaning of a statement primarily depends on the basic, literal meanings of its words, without needing to consider additional context or assumptions. According to this view, when we communicate, we often rely on the straightforward meanings of words, while context may only play a limited role in understanding. This perspective contrasts with other theories that emphasize the importance of context in shaping meaning. In essence, semantic minimalism argues for a more straightforward approach to interpreting language, focusing on the words themselves rather than external influences.