Philosophical Languages in the Seventeenth Century: Dalgarno, Wilkins, LeibnizThis book gives a clear and thorough description of three fascinating linguistic projects that were carried out in the seventeenth century: the philosophical languages of George Dalgarno (1661) and John Wilkins (1668), as well as the work of Leibniz in this area. These projects combined practical purposes, such as improving communication, with profound theoretical insights concerning the representation of knowledge and the nature of language. Rich in detail, this book provides all the material for a proper understanding of the workings of these schemes, while illuminating the intellectual context in which they took shape. It will be welcomed by anyone interested in the history of linguistics and philosophy of language. This book: offers in-depth analysis of the two most sophisticated universal language schemes created in the seventeenth century: the philosophical languages of Dalgarno and Wilkins, supplementing existing literature in focusing on the internal details of the languages, highlights and documents the controversy between Dalgarno and Wilkins, largely ignored in most other books on the subject, showing that their schemes resulted from different, and in various respects antagonistic approaches, presents a careful account of Leibniz's plans for a philosophical language, and illustrates, in discussing his philosophy of language, how his thought was formed in constant interaction with contemporaries, discusses at greater length than usual the extensive work Leibniz did in carrying out his plans, and shows to what extent he was indebted to Dalgarno and Wilkins, emphasizes the importance of the logical tradition for the structure of artificial languages constructed in the seventeenthcentury, and clarifies the role played by dominant views of the relation between spoken and written language, maintains a fine balance between historical research and argument, presenting what was said as accurately as pos |
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Common terms and phrases
accident Adamic language adjective adverbs alphabet analysis appears arbitrary Aristotle artificial language broadsheet claims classification classificatory clearly combinations combinatorics complete compound words concepts concerned consists contains context copula Couturat Dalgarno and Wilkins Dalgarno's language definition denoting derived Descartes designated difference discussed distinction Essay example existing languages explains expressed fact further G VII garno genera genus George Dalgarno grammar grammatical particles guage ideas indicates ISBN kind large number Latin Leibniz letter linguistic list of particles logical means method names nature noun periphrasis philosophical language possible predicaments primitive notions principle propositions radical words real character reason refer relation says semantic seventeenth century signifying Signorum signs similar simple species structure substance symbols tables theory things and notions thought tion transcendental particles translation truth universal character universal language universal writing various verb Wilkins's scheme word classes
Popular passages
Page 18 - a number of nations whose languages are altogether different, but who agree in the use of such characters (which are more widely received among them), communicate with each other in writing; to such an extent indeed that any book written in characters of this kind can be read off by each nation in their own language
Page 332 - Interpretatione: Now spoken sounds are symbols of affections in the soul, and written marks symbols of spoken sounds. And just as written marks are not the same for all men, neither are spoken sounds. But what these are in the first place signs of - affections of the soul - are the same for all; and what these affections are likenesses of - actual things - are also the same
Page 17 - The art of transmission has some other children besides Words and Letters. This then may be laid down as a rule; that whatever can be divided into differences sufficiently numerous to explain the variety of notions (provided those differences be perceptible to the sense) may be made a vehicle to convey the thoughts of one man to another
Page 261 - Such a Language as this (where every word were a definition and contain'd the nature of the thing) might not unjustly be termed a naturall Language, and would afford that which the Cabalists and Rosycrucians have vainely sought for in the Hebrew, And in the names of things assigned by Adam, which M. Webster, passing the
Page 15 - into words, words signifying either simple notions or being resolvible into simple notions, it is manifest, that if all the sorts of simple notions be found out, and have Symboles assigned to them, those will be extreamly few in respect of the other
Page 169 - things and notions, as are to have names assigned to them, and withall so to contrive these as to their order, that the place of every thing may contribute to a description of the nature of it. Denoting both the General and
Page 417 - Theory ofScience. A Selection with an Introduction by J. Berg. Translated from German by B. Terrell. 1973 ISBN 90-277-0248-9 6. JME Moravcsik (ed.): Patterns in Plato's Thought. 1973 ISBN 90-277-0286-1 7. Avicenna: The Propositional Logic. A Translation from
Page 194 - by reason of the exceeding comprehensiveness of some notions, and the extreme subtilty of others, as likewise because of the streightness of that method which I am bound up to by these Tables it will so fall out, that several things cannot be disposed of so accurately as they ought to be
Page 155 - The first thing to be considered and enquired into is, Concerning a just Enumeration and description of such things or notions as are to have Marks or Names assigned to them
Bibliographic information
| Title | Philosophical Languages in the Seventeenth Century: Dalgarno, Wilkins, Leibniz Volume 54 of The New Synthese Historical Library, ISSN 1879-8578 Volume 54 of The new synthese historical library : texts and studies in the history of philosophy |
| Author | Jaap Maat |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Springer Science & Business Media, 2004 |
| ISBN | 1402017588, 9781402017582 |
| Length | 415 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / General Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / General Philosophy / General Philosophy / History & Surveys / General Philosophy / Language Philosophy / Reference |
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