Meaning and ModalityA study of various central and connected topics in philosophical logic and the theory of meaning. There are important sections on the relation between linguistic and abstract entities, on necessity and convention, on meaning, sense and reference, and on entailment. Dr Lewy proposes a number of original solutions to problems which have been widely discussed in literature, and there is in particular a sharp and sustained criticism of conventionalism and reductionism. These are among the most difficult and intricate issues in contemporary philosophy, but Dr Lewy writes with great clarity and a minimum of technicality. Where his views are controversial they are explained and supported in a detail which makes it both possible and necessary for potential critics to state their disagreement precisely. The book should therefore be of value as an advanced textbook as well as an original contribution to philosophical logic. |
Contents
Words and concepts I | 1 |
Propositions and truth | 15 |
Reference and modality | 22 |
External and internal relations | 37 |
Necessity and convention | 48 |
I | 69 |
II | 82 |
Abstract entities and analyticity | 99 |
I | 108 |
II | 149 |
Index of proper names 159 | |
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Common terms and phrases
accept already Analysis analytic apply argument asserting assume assumption believe brother calculus Chapter clear clearly concept concept the concept conclusion condition confuses conjunction consequence consider contain contingent corresponding counter-intuitive course criterion definition discuss distinction distinguish English entails Q equivalent explain expression female fox fact false female fox Fido follows give given greater Hence idea identical important impossible interpretation intuitive involve Lewis Lewis's logically necessary logically possible male material matter means mentioned modal Moore necessarily necessary proposition necessity notion object obvious occur Paradox Philosophical phrase the concept position possible premiss principle proof proposition expressed purely PV Q question Quine quoted reason reference reject relation respect restriction seems sense sentence Smiley's statement step strictly implies substitution suppose suppression Symbolic synonymous syntactically tautology theory thought transitivity translation true truth understand vixen Wisdom wish word vixen Wright
References to this book
Spreading the Word: Groundings in the Philosophy of Language Simon Blackburn No preview available - 1984 |