The fateful copula: on an attempt to justify linguistic relativity

Abstract

The paper criticizes the semantic component in the conception of A.V. Smirnov presented in the monograph “The logic of sense as a philosophy of mind: an invitation to reflection” (M., 2021) as a recent variant of an argument for linguistic relativity. The author presents arguments showing that the proposed conception is based on a false thesis about the absence of the copula in Arabic. Further conclusions made by A.V. Smirnov as well as the structure of his arguments are also critically assessed.