Psychological attributions, competence and conceptual possession from a psychological externalist perspective

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to provide some criteria in order to determine conceptual possession in semi-competent speakers from an externalist point of view. Taking into account one of T. Burge’s examples, we will present the notion of ‘cancelling attribution’ with the purpose of explaining why sometimes we can use a general term in an oblique position to specify some psychological attitudes of an individual even though he does not posses the concept expressed by the relevant term.