Stimulus Meaning Debunked

Abstract

W. V. Quine appears to have introduced his notion 'stimulus meaning' for two main purposes: To define the concept of an observation sentence, and to provide criteria for translation manuals. I argue that it is not useful for any of these purposes, in part by questioning Quine's views on semantics and epistemology. I also survey some alternative purposes that the notion is supposed to serve, and argue that its utility relative to these purposes is also limited. I therefore suggest that we let the notion drop out of our philosophical toolbox.