Tarski’s argument and Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz’s theories of meaning (in Polish)

Abstract

In the years 1931-1934 Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz formulated two versions of the theory of meaning. Tarski showed that the second version of the theory allows for the existence of synonymous names with different denotations. Tarski and Ajdukiewicz believed that this feature disqualified the theory. In the article I briefly present the assumptions of the theory and make a detailed comparison of both versions of the theory, primarily because of the basic definition of the interchangeability of expressions. For this purpose I present a formalization of the basic definitions and show that Tarski's objection also applies to the first version of the theory. The strength of Tarski's argument is based on the assumption that no adequate theory of meaning can permit the existence of synonymous names with different denotations. I undertake a discussion with this standpoint.