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Part of
The Evidential Basis of Linguistic Argumentation
Edited by András Kertész and Csilla Rákosi
[Studies in Language Companion Series 153] 2014
► pp. 221–270

Chapter 9. Thought experiments and real experiments as converging data sources in pragmatics

The aim of the present chapter is to reconstruct the relationship between thought experiments and real experiments in pragmatics. In the first part, Searle’s (1969) thought experiment on Kennst du das Land, wo die Zitronen blühn? is analysed with the help of the p-model. The second part reconstructs the argumentation structure of the real experiments reported on in Holtgraves & Ashley (2001), and shows that the latter and Searle’s thought experiment closely interact. Basically, their relationship is characterised by the dynamic process of the cyclic, prismatic and retrospective re-evalutation of information in the sense of the p-model. However, they have different strengths and weaknesses. Accordingly, the generalised finding is that the conscious integration of real and thought experiments as data sources within some research may considerably enhance the reliability of pragmatic hypotheses.

Published online: 23 April 2014
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https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.153.09ker
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Cited by

Cited by 4 other publications

Kertész, András
2015. The Puzzle of Thought Experiments in Conceptual Metaphor Research. Foundations of Science 20:2 ► pp. 147 ff. DOI logo
Kertész, András
2016. Poor vs. Good Thought Experiments in Pragmatics: A Case Study. In Pragmemes and Theories of Language Use [Perspectives in Pragmatics, Philosophy & Psychology, 9], ► pp. 643 ff. DOI logo
Kertész, András & Csilla Rákosi
2014. Chapter 2. The p-model of data and evidence in linguistics. In The Evidential Basis of Linguistic Argumentation [Studies in Language Companion Series, 153], ► pp. 15 ff. DOI logo
Kertész, András & Csilla Rákosi
2016. On the Inferential Structure of Indirect Reports. In Indirect Reports and Pragmatics [Perspectives in Pragmatics, Philosophy & Psychology, 5], ► pp. 435 ff. DOI logo

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