The enigma of Gottlob Frege. Four approaches of the theorists of the direct reference

Abstract

In this paper I introduce a current discussion that there is in philosophy of language about Gottlob Frege’s puzzle. In particular, I reconstruct, being rejected the explanation provided by Frege, four proposals defended by the theorists of direct reference -the proposals defended by François Re- canati, Nathan Salmon, Howard Wettstein and John Perry-, together with the proposal provided by Frege, to this puzzle. I conclude that, at the first gaze, one of these proposals -the proposal defended by Perry- seems to be much more attractive and complete that the others.