Editing Internalism and externalism (section)

== Semantics ==

[[Semantic externalism]] comes in two varieties, depending on whether meaning is construed cognitively or linguistically. On a cognitive construal, externalism is the thesis that what concepts (or contents) are available to a thinker is determined by their environment, or their relation to their environment. On a linguistic construal, externalism is the thesis that the meaning of a word is environmentally determined. Likewise, one can construe semantic internalism in two ways, as a denial of either of these two theses.

Externalism and internalism in semantics is closely tied to the distinction in [[philosophy of mind]] concerning mental content, since the contents of one's thoughts (specifically, [[intentional mental state]]s) are usually taken to be semantic objects that are truth-evaluable.

See also:
*[[Linguistic turn]] for more about the two construals of meaning
*[[Swamp man]] thought experiment
*[[Twin Earth thought experiment]]