Generic conjunctivitis

Abstract Generic sentences involving phrasal conjunctions present a prima facie problem for the standard theory of generics according to which they express quasi-universal generalisations about what is characteristic members particular kind. For example, sentence ‘Elephants live in Africa and Asia’ true, even though it uncharacteristic an elephant both Asia. In response this problem, theorists have recently proposed radical departures from view. This paper argues that such are unwarranted: not only do fail fully accommodate data generic conjunctions, their scope overly narrow, since phenomena question also arise non-generic contexts. I propose new aims account principled manner sheds light on mereological commitments natural language.