Non-referential Uses of “I” and Its Perspectival Character
Studies in Logic, Vol. 18, No. 3 (2025): 115–127 PII: 16743202(2025)03011513
Minyao Huang
Abstract. The English “I” is widely held as a well-behaved Kaplanian indexical that has a directly-referential content and a character which implies immunity to self-misidentification. In this paper I present uses of “I” outside attitudal contexts that are not directly referential yet exhibit immunity to selfmisidentification. They include uses of “I” for simulation and for counterfactual self-portrait. I argue that they (i) challenge the non-shiftability and the rigidity arguments for the direct reference view, and (ii) require a revision of the character of “I” to reflect the sensitivity of its content to the perspective from which the speaker identifies herself.