Reference

Reference is a part of meaning. Assume that there are three trees in a field. Each tree
has a unique reference. Each branch on each tree has a unique reference. And each
leaf and the field have a unique reference. There are two ways we can look at
reference. The first is physical in that each atom and electron has reference whether it
can be seen or not. The second is perceptual: this means how we see objects--do we
see them as an object or not? We will take the latter approach.

Reference also includes imaginary objects: unicorns, leprechauns, Santa Claus, Hades,
elves, eternal bliss, and so forth. This would also include objects which currently do
not exist but could exist: a King of France, dinosaurs, a five-cent ice-cream cone, and
so forth.

Sense

Sense is the more interesting part meaning. Sense refers to how we see an object or
the amount of information given about an object.

The classic example cited showing the distinction is the planet Venus. As a planet it
has reference arbitrarily given the name Venus. It is often called the morning star
when seen in the morning, and the evening star when seen in the evening. Thus, it has
two senses, depending on the time of day the object is seen. The planet itself is the
referent; the morning star is one sense, the evening star the other sense. It could have
other senses.

In another example suppose John has two sons, Bill and Henry; one nephew, Pete; and
one grandson, Dave. When we refer to John as such, there is no sense. John is the
arbitrary name given to the referent. Consider the following phrases:

Bill's father

Henry's father

Pete's uncle

Dave's grandfather.

Each phrase either refers to John (X's father), or it may refer to John: Pete may have
more thn one uncle and Dave has a second grandfather. In these cases the addressee
does not know which of the possible referents is the intended referent except when
clear from the context.
The four phrases listed above represent a different sense of the intended referent.
Virtually every object can have several senses.

Names are referential. They have little or no sense. Lexical nouns each denote a sense.
The term father refer to anyone who is a male parent (antoher sense). As a rule all
dictionary definitions define sense, not reference. Only names in a dictionary
reference and no sense. Technically, this is not a definition.

Verbs, like nouns, have sense, not reference. Events rarely have names, though it is
possible: the Holocast, World War II, the Big Bang, and so forth.