Some Remarks On the Distinction Between Interpretation in abstracto and Interpretation in concreto. A Reassessment

Abstract

The aim of this essay is to take stock of the great debate on Ric- cardo Guastini’s interpretive skepticism, which was published on the Issue XI (2012) of the journal Discusiones. The Author will formulate a few ideas on a particular topic of the debate: the distinction between interpretation in abstracto and interpretation in concreto. The Author will argue in favor of the following claim: the best restatement of the distinction between inter- pretation in abstracto and interpretation in concreto is grounded on a theory of meaning that defines: a) the product of an interpretation in abstracto as the sense of a normative statement; b) the product of an interpretation in concreto as the reference of a norm; c) the activity of interpretation in concreto as a stipulation of the reference through an act of ascription. In order to defend the last claim, I will rely on the notion of reference-determiner elaborated by Gillian Russell.