The 5th lecture in the academic series Experimental Philosophy in China, themed “Experimental Semantics”, took place online on the evening of October 9, 2026. The keynote speaker was Professor Michael Devitt of the City University of New York. Associate Professor Li Jincai from Shanghai Jiao Tong University moderated the event. Associate Professor Ding Xiaojun of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Dr. Nicolò D’Agruma of the University of Granada, and Dr. Zhu Xiaozhen of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies acted as commentators. More than 50 faculty and students attended the online session. This series assembles scholars from China and across the globe to investigate how experimental methods can address philosophical problems, and promote dialogue among philosophers, linguists, psychologists and other researchers.

Professor Devitt began with foundational questions in the theory of reference, explaining that this theory aims to uncover the mechanisms whereby words refer to objects. Prior to the 1970s, the descriptivist theory held sway for decades. Later, scholars such as Kripke challenged this account and developed the historical-causal theory, triggering ongoing debates over competing referential mechanisms. Focusing on the reference of natural kind terms, Professor Devitt drew on Putnam’s Twin Earth thought experiment to illustrate how causal chains fix the reference of words. He further observed that these rival theories were traditionally evaluated primarily against philosophers’ own referential intuitions. The reliability of such “armchair” methodology lies at the heart of the re-examination undertaken by experimental semantics.

On this basis, Professor Devitt elaborated on the rise and methodological importance of experimental semantics. He noted that experimental semantics emerged from critical reflection on traditional armchair philosophical practice. Its goal is to establish sound empirical approaches for testing theories of reference. Related research should investigate not only ordinary speakers’ referential intuitions but also real-world language use in context, thereby furnishing semantic theories with more comprehensive empirical evidence.

Professor Devitt went on to compare and evaluate multiple research methods used in experimental semantics, including elicited production tests and truth-value judgment tests for data collection. He specifically examined whether such methods can adequately capture authentic language use, and analysed key questions: whether ordinary speakers’ referential intuitions qualify as theoretical evidence, and whether referential judgments differ across cultural contexts. Reviewing two decades of experimental results, he also offered reflections on prospective directions for experimental semantics.

During the commentary segment, the three commentators and participating faculty and students engaged in in-depth discussion on topics including the theoretical boundaries of experimental semantics, experimental design, cross-cultural variation, the reliability of referential intuitions, and name acquisition. Professor Devitt **addressed each question in turn**, drawing on relevant theories and concrete research cases. The event featured lively exchanges and a vibrant academic atmosphere. The lecture was a great success.