Survey Results

Theory of reference: descriptive, deflationary, or causal?

Population

AOS

Region

for

Exclude answers beyond respondent's first 50

Include skip/insufficiently familiar answers

877 respondents

What the percentages mean: "Accept or lean toward P: 50% (40%)" means that 50% of respondents endorsed this answer inclusively (including multiple-answer endorsements) and 40% endorsed this answer exclusively (excluding multiple-answer endorsements).

These results should not be used for comparison to 2009 results due to different populations and parameters. For meaningful longitudinal comparisons, see the longitudinal analysis section.

Collapse accept and lean towards

Accept or lean towards:
causal

46.29% (41.05%)

Reject or lean against:
causal

1.03% (0.00%)

Accept or lean towards:
descriptive

22.12% (16.99%)

Reject or lean against:
descriptive

1.03% (0.00%)

Accept or lean towards:
deflationary

15.05% (14.03%)

Reject or lean against:
deflationary

3.42% (0.00%)

Accept a combination of views

6.39%

Accept an alternative view

5.59%

The question is too unclear to answer

3.31%

There is no fact of the matter

1.71%

Agnostic/undecided

10.03%

Other

0.91%

N = 877, excluding skipped & insufficiently familiar (254 respondents)

Most popular option combinations

Options	Number of responses	% of responses
Accept or lean towards: causal Accept or lean towards: descriptive	37	4.22%
Accept or lean towards: causal Accept or lean towards: descriptive Accept or lean towards: deflationary	4	0.46%
Accept or lean towards: causal Accept or lean towards: deflationary	3	0.34%
Accept or lean towards: descriptive Accept or lean towards: deflationary	2	0.23%
Accept or lean towards: descriptive	1	0.11%

Alternative Views

63 target respondents indicated that they accept or lean toward an alternative view. The words used in their responses cluster as follows. These results are not filtered by AOS, region, etc.

HYBR (7): hybrid (7)
CONT (5): contextual (3) contingent (1) content (1)
DEPE (4): depends (3) depend (1)
SEMA (3): semantics (2) semantic (1)
PLUR (3): pluralism (3)
PRAG (3): pragmatism (1) pragmatist (1) pragmatic (1)

Longitudinal comparison to 2009 survey

This question was not in the 2009 survey

Strongest correlations with main questions (target population)

r: -0.4	Truth: correspondence
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	23	96
Reject	382	183

n: 684

p < 0.0001

r: 0.39	Mental content: internalism
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	85	72
Reject	121	392

n: 670

p < 0.0001

r: 0.39	Truth: deflationary
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	85	34
Reject	119	445

n: 683

p < 0.0001

r: 0.37	Proper names: Fregean
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	111	54
Reject	136	306

n: 607

p < 0.0001

r: 0.37	Grounds of intentionality: causal/teleological
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	142	118
Reject	43	175

n: 478

p < 0.0001

r: -0.36	Metaontology: heavyweight realism
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	12	73
Reject	191	181

n: 457

p < 0.0001

r: -0.32	Proper names: Fregean
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	98	226
Reject	149	134

n: 607

p < 0.0001

r: 0.3	Metaontology: deflationary realism
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	51	34
Reject	92	279

n: 456

p < 0.0001

r: -0.3	Mental content: internalism
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	78	291
Reject	128	173

n: 670

p < 0.0001

r: 0.28	Material composition: nihilism
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	9	37
Reject	23	277

n: 346

p < 0.0001

r: 0.27	Truth: correspondence
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	264	107
Reject	148	174

n: 693

p < 0.0001

r: 0.27	Metaontology: heavyweight realism
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	130	105
Reject	75	151

n: 461

p < 0.0001

r: 0.27	Grounds of intentionality: phenomenal
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	34	95
Reject	30	316

n: 475

p < 0.0001

r: -0.26	Truth: deflationary
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	79	292
Reject	126	195

n: 692

p < 0.0001

r: -0.25	Grounds of intentionality: causal/teleological
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	16	64
Reject	166	225

n: 471

p < 0.0001

r: 0.23	Epistemic justification: internalism
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	89	73
Reject	197	329

n: 688

p < 0.0001

r: 0.22	Justification: reliabilism
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	154	141
Reject	70	181

n: 546

p < 0.0001

r: -0.22	Propositions: structured entities
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	22	63
Reject	206	231

n: 522

p < 0.0001

r: 0.22	Response to external-world skepticism: pragmatic
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	33	58
Reject	88	392

n: 571

p < 0.0001

r: 0.22	Grounds of intentionality: interpretational
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	29	52
Reject	43	348

n: 472

p < 0.0001

r: 0.21	Propositions: nonexistent
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	33	52
Reject	61	375

n: 521

p < 0.0001

r: -0.21	Laws of nature: Humean
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	88	281
Reject	135	185

n: 689

p < 0.0001

r: -0.21	Justification: coherentism
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	51	242
Reject	76	178

n: 547

p < 0.0001

r: -0.21	Semantic content: radical contextualism (most or all)
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	49	223
Reject	79	168

n: 519

p < 0.0001

r: 0.2	Propositions: structured entities
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	143	140
Reject	89	157

n: 529

p < 0.0001

r: -0.2	Grounds of intentionality: phenomenal
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	20	237
Reject	44	174

n: 475

p < 0.0001

r: -0.2	Justification: reliabilism
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	38	91
Reject	186	231

n: 546

p < 0.0001

r: 0.2	Laws of nature: Humean
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	65	56
Reject	154	405

n: 680

p < 0.0001

r: 0.2	Semantic content: radical contextualism (most or all)
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	38	56
Reject	89	330

n: 513

p < 0.0001

r: 0.19	Grounds of intentionality: inferential
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	20	59
Reject	27	363

n: 469

p < 0.0001

r: 0.19	Propositional attitudes: representational
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	175	104
Reject	107	142

n: 528

p < 0.0001

r: -0.18	Science: scientific realism
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	79	31
Reject	498	100

n: 708

p < 0.0001

r: 0.18	Justification: coherentism
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	32	55
Reject	93	360

n: 540

p < 0.0001

r: -0.18	Human genetic engineering: permissible
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	94	61
Reject	346	105

n: 606

p < 0.0001

r: -0.18	Grounds of intentionality: causal/teleological
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	37	92
Reject	148	201

n: 478

p < 0.0001

r: -0.18	External world: idealism
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	9	386
Reject	34	312

n: 741

p < 0.0001

r: -0.18	Mind: physicalism
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	87	95
Reject	342	198

n: 722

p < 0.0001

r: 0.18	Propositional attitudes: nonexistent
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	8	80
Reject	10	413

n: 511

p < 0.0001

r: -0.18	Causation: nonexistent
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	6	298
Reject	21	227

n: 552

p < 0.0001

r: -0.18	Metaontology: anti-realism
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	17	216
Reject	45	181

n: 459

p < 0.0001

r: 0.18	Possible worlds: nonexistent
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	57	54
Reject	153	371

n: 635

p < 0.0001

r: 0.18	Propositional attitudes: phenomenal
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	23	112
Reject	14	371

n: 520

p < 0.0001

r: 0.17	Consciousness: eliminativism
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	8	88
Reject	20	470

n: 586

p < 0.0001

r: 0.17	Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	170	184
Reject	110	215

n: 679

p < 0.0001

r: 0.17	Morality: expressivism
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	31	80
Reject	44	457

n: 612

p < 0.0001

r: -0.17	Epistemic justification: internalism
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	128	244
Reject	158	158

n: 688

p < 0.0001

r: -0.17	Propositional attitudes: representational
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	32	57
Reject	243	187

n: 519

p < 0.0001

r: 0.17	Consciousness: dualism
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	57	86
Reject	97	354

n: 594

p < 0.0001

r: -0.17	Hard problem of consciousness: yes
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	45	60
Reject	348	164

n: 617

p < 0.0001

r: 0.17	Mind: physicalism
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	254	131
Reject	175	162

n: 722

p < 0.0001

r: 0.17	Properties: immanent universals
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	69	189
Reject	39	192

n: 489

p: 0.0002

r: 0.17	Properties: nonexistent
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	18	57
Reject	32	373

n: 480

p: 0.0003

r: -0.16	Free will: compatibilism
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	101	80
Reject	380	167

n: 728

p < 0.0001

r: -0.16	Moral judgment: cognitivism
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	58	46
Reject	458	125

n: 687

p < 0.0001

r: -0.16	A priori knowledge: yes
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	80	44
Reject	495	109

n: 728

p < 0.0001

r: 0.16	Justification: nonreliabilist foundationalism
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	48	82
Reject	118	299

n: 547

p < 0.0001

r: 0.16	Hume: skeptic
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	60	75
Reject	138	251

n: 524

p: 0.0002

r: -0.16	Metaontology: deflationary realism
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	69	165
Reject	76	150

n: 460

p: 0.0005

r: -0.16	Other minds: newborn babies
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	87	18
Reject	474	64

n: 643

p < 0.0001

r: 0.16	Response to external-world skepticism: abductive
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	45	95
Reject	105	331

n: 576

p < 0.0001

r: -0.16	Abstract objects: Platonism
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	40	77
Reject	266	290

n: 673

p < 0.0001

r: -0.16	Possible worlds: abstract
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	46	65
Reject	325	199

n: 635

p < 0.0001

r: 0.15	Science: scientific realism
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	337	49
Reject	250	82

n: 718

p < 0.0001

r: -0.15	Philosophical methods: intuition-based philosophy
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	47	75
Reject	348	255

n: 725

p < 0.0001

r: 0.15	True contradictions: impossible
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	252	52
Reject	208	75

n: 587

p: 0.0002

r: 0.15	External world: non-skeptical realism
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	362	33
Reject	286	59

n: 740

p < 0.0001

r: 0.15	Human genetic engineering: permissible
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	247	69
Reject	193	97

n: 606

p: 0.0002

r: 0.15	Perceptual experience: disjunctivism
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	28	69
Reject	73	409

n: 579

p: 0.0003

r: 0.15	External world: idealism
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	21	165
Reject	22	533

n: 741

p < 0.0001

r: 0.15	True contradictions: possible but non-actual
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	8	89
Reject	21	459

n: 577

p: 0.0004

r: 0.15	Zombies: metaphysically possible
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	70	105
Reject	132	369

n: 676

p < 0.0001

r: 0.15	Foundations of mathematics: constructivism/intuitionism
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	24	56
Reject	44	267

n: 391

p: 0.0037

r: -0.15	Grounds of intentionality: interpretational
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	28	231
Reject	45	174

n: 478

p: 0.0013

r: -0.15	Response to external-world skepticism: pragmatic
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	47	265
Reject	74	193

n: 579

p: 0.0004

r: -0.15	Aim of philosophy: truth/knowledge
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	43	72
Reject	316	268

n: 699

p < 0.0001

r: 0.14	Metaontology: anti-realism
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	20	65
Reject	42	328

n: 455

p: 0.0022

r: 0.14	Propositional attitudes: dispositional
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	43	46
Reject	127	303

n: 519

p: 0.0012

r: 0.14	Cosmological fine-tuning: no fine-tuning
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	37	46
Reject	100	309

n: 492

p: 0.0017

r: -0.14	True contradictions: possible but non-actual
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	8	296
Reject	21	262

n: 587

p: 0.0006

r: 0.14	Hard problem of consciousness: yes
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	117	41
Reject	282	186

n: 626

p: 0.0004

r: 0.14	Other minds: newborn babies
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	311	33
Reject	258	50

n: 652

p: 0.0003

r: 0.14	Causation: process/production
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	47	94
Reject	91	323

n: 555

p: 0.001

r: 0.14	Other minds: particles
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	11	159
Reject	5	477

n: 652

p: 0.0004

r: 0.14	Quantum mechanics: epistemic
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	14	52
Reject	34	258

n: 358

p: 0.0093

r: 0.14	Free will: libertarianism
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	49	132
Reject	89	457

n: 727

p: 0.0002

r: -0.14	Meta-ethics: moral realism
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	58	51
Reject	433	167

n: 709

p: 0.0003

r: -0.14	Analytic-synthetic distinction: yes
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	65	58
Reject	417	191

n: 731

p: 0.0002

r: 0.14	Morality: naturalist realism
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	139	184
Reject	86	212

n: 621

p: 0.0007

r: 0.13	Propositions: sets
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	17	121
Reject	32	359

n: 529

p: 0.0019

r: -0.13	Grounds of intentionality: inferential
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	20	239
Reject	30	187

n: 476

p: 0.0034

r: 0.13	Causation: nonexistent
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	9	77
Reject	18	441

n: 545

p: 0.0017

r: 0.13	Extended mind: yes
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	64	32
Reject	244	242

n: 582

p: 0.0012

r: 0.13	Aim of philosophy: truth/knowledge
Theory of reference: causal	Accept	Reject
Accept	213	167
Reject	153	176

n: 709

p: 0.0004

r: 0.13	Morality: non-naturalism
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	58	92
Reject	115	352

n: 617

p: 0.0009

r: 0.13	Statue and lump: one thing
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	39	37
Reject	144	290

n: 510

p: 0.0027

r: -0.13	Philosophical knowledge: a lot
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	52	50
Reject	338	195

n: 635

p: 0.0008

r: 0.13	Morality: constructivism
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	34	77
Reject	92	409

n: 612

p: 0.0011

r: 0.13	Propositions: simple entities
Theory of reference: descriptive	Accept	Reject
Accept	16	122
Reject	21	370

n: 529

p: 0.0028

r: -0.13	True contradictions: impossible
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	67	30
Reject	384	96

n: 577

p: 0.0019

r: -0.13	Morality: naturalist realism
Theory of reference: deflationary	Accept	Reject
Accept	27	85
Reject	198	304

n: 614

p: 0.0014

Strongest correlations with demographic questions (target population)

r: 0.22	Philosopher: Sellars
Theory of reference: deflationary	Yes	No
Accept	7	98
Reject	1	477

n: 583

p < 0.0001

r: 0.21	Philosopher: Wittgenstein
Theory of reference: deflationary	Yes	No
Accept	25	80
Reject	33	445

n: 583

p < 0.0001

r: -0.15	AOS: Metaphysics
Theory of reference: deflationary	Yes	No
Accept	22	108
Reject	185	438

n: 753

p < 0.0001

r: 0.14	Philosopher: Aristotle
Theory of reference: causal	Yes	No
Accept	72	224
Reject	36	257

n: 589

p: 0.0005

r: 0.14	Tradition: Analytic
Theory of reference: causal	Yes	No
Accept	366	27
Reject	310	48

n: 751

p: 0.0002

r: -0.13	Philosopher: Wittgenstein
Theory of reference: causal	Yes	No
Accept	18	278
Reject	41	252

n: 589

p: 0.0016

r: 0.13	Region of PhD: Oceania
Theory of reference: descriptive	Yes	No
Accept	13	130
Reject	15	412

n: 570

p: 0.0024

r: 0.12	Philosopher: Quine
Theory of reference: deflationary	Yes	No
Accept	18	87
Reject	45	433

n: 583

p: 0.0026

r: -0.12	Tradition: Continental
Theory of reference: causal	Yes	No
Accept	6	387
Reject	22	336

n: 751

p: 0.0007

r: -0.12	Philosopher: Lewis
Theory of reference: deflationary	Yes	No
Accept	7	98
Reject	70	408

n: 583

p: 0.0051

r: 0.12	Philosopher: Putnam
Theory of reference: causal	Yes	No
Accept	21	275
Reject	7	286

n: 589

p: 0.0051

r: 0.11	Philosopher: Foucault
Theory of reference: deflationary	Yes	No
Accept	5	100
Reject	3	475

n: 583

p: 0.0054

r: 0.11	Philosopher: Russell
Theory of reference: causal	Yes	No
Accept	36	260
Reject	19	274

n: 589

p: 0.0066

r: -0.11	AOS: Continental Philosophy
Theory of reference: causal	Yes	No
Accept	5	392
Reject	21	346

n: 764

p: 0.002

r: 0.11	Philosopher: Carnap
Theory of reference: descriptive	Yes	No
Accept	20	141
Reject	22	406

n: 589

p: 0.0077

r: 0.11	AOS: Meta-Ethics
Theory of reference: descriptive	Yes	No
Accept	37	157
Reject	75	495

n: 764

p: 0.0032

r: 0.1	Philosopher: Dewey
Theory of reference: deflationary	Yes	No
Accept	7	98
Reject	8	470

n: 583

p: 0.0119

r: -0.1	AOS: Philosophy of Mathematics
Theory of reference: causal	Yes	No
Accept	10	387
Reject	19	348

n: 764

p: 0.004

r: 0.1	Philosopher: Descartes
Theory of reference: descriptive	Yes	No
Accept	14	147
Reject	18	410

n: 589

p: 0.0117

r: 0.1	Philosopher: Popper
Theory of reference: causal	Yes	No
Accept	9	287
Reject	2	291

n: 589

p: 0.0158

r: -0.1	Region of PhD: Oceania
Theory of reference: causal	Yes	No
Accept	11	286
Reject	17	256

n: 570

p: 0.0181

r: 0.1	AOS: Philosophy of Social Science
Theory of reference: deflationary	Yes	No
Accept	11	119
Reject	19	604

n: 753

p: 0.0085

r: -0.09	AOS: Philosophy of Mind
Theory of reference: deflationary	Yes	No
Accept	25	105
Reject	156	467

n: 753

p: 0.0106

r: 0.09	Region of affiliation: Oceania
Theory of reference: descriptive	Yes	No
Accept	16	176
Reject	28	547

n: 767

p: 0.0102

r: 0.09	AOS: Social and Political Philosophy
Theory of reference: deflationary	Yes	No
Accept	20	110
Reject	61	562

n: 753

p: 0.0122

r: -0.09	AOS: Meta-Ethics
Theory of reference: causal	Yes	No
Accept	41	356
Reject	71	296

n: 764

p: 0.013

r: -0.09	Philosopher: Wittgenstein
Theory of reference: descriptive	Yes	No
Accept	10	151
Reject	49	379

n: 589

p: 0.0293

r: 0.08	Philosopher: Locke
Theory of reference: descriptive	Yes	No
Accept	7	154
Reject	8	420

n: 589

p: 0.0421

r: -0.08	AOS: 20th Century Philosophy
Theory of reference: causal	Yes	No
Accept	19	378
Reject	31	336

n: 764

p: 0.0243

r: 0.08	AOS: Philosophy of Mind
Theory of reference: causal	Yes	No
Accept	107	290
Reject	78	289

n: 764

p: 0.0277

r: 0.08	AOS: Continental Philosophy
Theory of reference: deflationary	Yes	No
Accept	9	121
Reject	17	606

n: 753

p: 0.0341

r: 0.08	AOS: Normative Ethics
Theory of reference: descriptive	Yes	No
Accept	35	159
Reject	94	476

n: 764

p: 0.0348

r: 0.08	Region of nationality: Oceania
Theory of reference: descriptive	Yes	No
Accept	16	164
Reject	32	515

n: 727

p: 0.0406

r: -0.07	Tradition: Other tradition
Theory of reference: causal	Yes	No
Accept	21	372
Reject	26	332

n: 751

p: 0.0467