Frege-Geach problem

noun

The problem that, by subscribing to expressivism, one accepts that the meaning of (say) "it is wrong to tell lies" is different from the meaning of the "it is wrong to tell lies" part of the conditional "if it is wrong to tell lies, then it is wrong to get your little brother to lie", and that therefore expressivism is an inadequate explanation for moral language.

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Meanings

nounFrege-Geach problem (plural Frege-Geach problems)

plural Frege-Geach problems

  1. human sciencesThe problem that, by subscribing to expressivism, one accepts that the meaning of (say) "it is wrong to tell lies" is different from the meaning of the "it is wrong to tell lies" part of the conditional "if it is wrong to tell lies, then it is wrong to get your little brother to lie", and that therefore expressivism is an inadequate explanation for moral language.

Origin

Named after Peter Geach and Gottlob Frege; Geach developed the concept from Frege's writings.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Japanese フレーゲ゠ギーチ問題
  • フレーゲ゠ギーチ問題 (Furēge-Gīchi mondai)the problem that expressivism cannot account for moral language in embedded contexts
Cite this entry
APA

Frege-Geach problem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Frege-Geach%20problem

MLA

“Frege-Geach problem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Frege-Geach%20problem. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Frege-Geach problem,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Frege-Geach%20problem.

Source: Frege-Geach problem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.