According to the verification theory of meaning, a statement's meaning is dependent on the statement's truth value and ability to be verified. With respect to J.L. Austin's idea of performative utterances, the verification theory commits the descriptive fallacy because it depends on the idea that all statements must describe conditions which must either be true or false.
I do not believe that Austin truly avoids the descriptive fallacy with his idea of performative utterances, since these utterances usually do still contain a truth value. The only difference is that the speaker determines the statement's truth value as she utters it, rather than the statement having a definite truth before being said. For example, if someone were to say at a ship's christening: "I name this ship Boaty McBoatface", (assuming this person has the power to name the ship) it is a true statement that "[this person] names the ship Boaty McBoatface". Austin may argue that the case is still special with performative statements since their truth value is usually true, unless being said sarcastically.
A question I have about Austins claims is about to what degree are commands are performative. While it seems a given that when God says "let there be light," he states a performative because his words cause the action of the light coming into being. However, if I were to say the same phrase, and my friend flips a switch, was this a performative utterance? Is it only a perfomative utterance if my friend follows through with my command?
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