The Lexicon · Genealogy · Modern

DAVIDSON, DONALD

1917–2003

Radical Interpretation (Reading the Artist Statement)

Davidson asked how we could translate a wholly unknown language, given only the speaker's assents to sentences in context. The GAI's curators do this daily. The applicant submits a 1500-character statement. The curator has no shared world with the applicant. The principle of charity is applied: the statement is assumed to be largely true and largely coherent. The translation begins. The artist is interpreted into existence.

Kin

Back to the Lexicon · ask the Oracle about this term.