Reading Philosophy of Language Selected Texts

Designed for readers new to the subject, Reading Philosophy of Language presents key texts in the philosophy of language together with helpful editorial guidance. A concise collection of key texts in the philosophy of language Ideal for readers new to the subject. Features seminal texts by leading figures in the field, such as Austin, Chomsky, Davidson, Dummett and Searle. Presents three texts on each of five key topics: speech and performance; meaning and truth; knowledge of language; meaning and compositionality; and non-literal meaning. A volume introduction from the editors outlines the subject's principal concerns. Introductions to each chapter locate the pieces in context and explain relevant terminology and theories. Interactive commentaries help readers to engage with the texts.

Jennifer Hornsby is Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London. Reading Philosophy: Selected Texts with a Method for Beginners (co-edited with Samuel Guttenplan and Christopher Janaway, Blackwell, 2003) is among her recent publications.

Guy Longworth is Lecturer in Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London.

Sources and Acknowledgements

ix

Introduction

1

(6)

Reference and Meaning

7

(36)

Introduction

7

(2)

Introduction to Locke

9

(4)

`Of Words' (extracts from An Essay Concerning Human Understanding)

9

(4)

John Locke

Commentary on Locke

13

(4)

Introduction to Mill

17

(9)

`Of Names' (extracts from System of Logic)

18

(8)

J. S. Mill

Commentary on Mill

26

(3)

Introduction to Frege

29

(6)

`On Sense and Reference' (extract)

31

(4)

Gottlob Frege

Commentary on Frege

35

(6)

Conclusion

41

(2)

Speech and Action

43

(46)

Introduction

43

(1)

Introduction to Austin

44

(14)

`Performative Utterances'

45

(13)

J. L. Austin

Commentary on Austin

58

(5)

Introduction to Alston

63

(14)

`Meaning and Use'

64

(13)

William P. Alston

Commentary on Alston

77

(5)

Introduction to Searle

82

(1)

`Meaning' (extracts from Speech Acts)

82

(1)

John R. Searle

Commentary on Searle

83

(3)

Conclusion

86

(3)

Meaning and Truth

89

(63)

Introduction

89

(3)

Introduction to Davidson

92

(15)

`Radical Interpretation'

93

(14)

Donald Davidson

Commentary on Davidson

107

(8)

Introduction to Soames

115

(5)

`Semantics and Semantic Competence' (extract)

116

(4)

Scott Soames

Commentary on Soames

120

(8)

Introduction to Wright

128

(13)

`Theories of Meaning and Speakers' Knowledge' (extract)

129

(12)

Crispin Wright

Commentary on Wright

141

(8)

Conclusion

149

(1)

Appendix: Tarski's Truth-theoretic Machinery

149

(3)

Knowledge of Language

152

(63)

Introduction

152

(3)

Introduction to Chomsky

155

(10)

`Knowledge of Language as a Focus of Inquiry' (extracts from Knowledge of Language)

156

(9)

Noam Chomsky

Commentary on Chomsky

165

(6)

Introduction to Dummett

171

(14)

`What Do I Know When I Know a Language?'

172

(13)

Michael Dummett

Commentary on Dummett

185

(6)

Introduction to Campbell

191

(16)

`Knowledge and Understanding'

192

(15)

John Campbell

Commentary on Campbell

207

(6)

Conclusion

213

(2)

Meaning and Compositionality

215

(34)

Introduction

215

(1)

Introduction to Horwich

216

(6)

`The Composition of Meanings' (extracts from Meaning)

217

(5)

Paul Horwich

Commentary on Horwich

222

(2)

Introduction to Higginbotham

224

(8)

`A Perspective on Truth and Meaning' (extracts)

224

(8)

James Higginbotham

Commentary on Higginbotham

232

(2)

Introduction to Pietroski

234

(9)

`The Undeflated Domain of Semantics'

235

(8)

Paul Pietroski

Commentary on Pietroski

243

(5)

Conclusion

248

(1)

Non-literal Meaning

249

(57)

Introduction

249

(2)

Introduction to Bergmann

251

(11)

`Metaphorical Assertions'

251

(11)

Merrie Bergmann

Commentary on Bergmann

262

(2)

Introduction to Davies

264

(16)

`Idiom and Metaphor'

265

(15)

Martin Davies

Commentary on Davies

280

(5)

Introduction to Bach

285

(16)

`Speaking Loosely: Sentence Non-literality'

286

(15)

Kent Bach

Commentary on Bach

301

(3)

Conclusion

304

(2)

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Reading Philosophy of Language Selected Texts with Interactive Commentary

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials