 Inferential role semantics

Inferential Role Semantics (IRS) is a theory of meaning that emphasizes the role of inferences in understanding the meaning of expressions, particularly in natural language. Developed in part by philosophers such as Robert Brandom, IRS posits that the meaning of a term is not simply tied to its reference (the objects it denotes) but is rather determined by the role it plays in the web of inferences that speakers can draw from and make with that term.