Deference first

Abstract Recent research in experimental semantics seems to indicate that, contrary to most philosophers, non-philosophers do not (uniformly) assign reference in accordance with physical externalism as traditionally understood. This paper will argue that the purported incompatibility between physical externalism and social externalism indicates that from this research, it cannot be concluded that philosophers and non-philosophers assign reference in accordance with different theories of reference. This is so because the purported incompatibility indicates that philosophers do not uniformly assign reference in accordance with physical externalism as traditionally understood, either. Additionally, this paper will argue for a view about the facts by virtue of which philosophers assign reference. From this view, it follows that in order to test whether philosophers and non-philosophers agree in assigning reference in accordance with physical externalism, physical externalism cannot be tested without testing deference.