罗素的《论指称》一文讨论的是“指称词组”的指称问题。罗素认为,要把意义指派给指称词组所在的命题,剥夺词组的指称功能,从而将它们消化在命题中。然而尽管与弗雷格的意义理论正向反对,罗素的理论并不构成对弗雷格意义理论的倒退。二者都属于现代经验论的范畴,他们在反对心理主义,捍卫客观知识方面是一致的。
The discussion in Russellg On Denoting iocuses otJ t,~u~,~ believes it is necessary to assign the meaning to the proposition where the phrase appears, depriving phraseg referen- tial function ,thereby eliminate the distinctive character of denoting phrase. Although opposite to Frege's theory of meaning, Russell's theory is not a regressive step. They all belong to modern empiricism camp defending the objective knowledge against psychologism.