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  3. Coming to our Senses
  • Cited by 15
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Online publication date:
January 2010
Print publication year:
1995
Online ISBN:
9780511609190
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511609190
Subjects:
Philosophy: General Interest, Logic, Philosophy, Language and Linguistics, Semantics and Pragmatics
Series:
Cambridge Studies in Philosophy
Information

Book description

Michael Devitt is a distinguished philosopher of language. In this book he takes up one of the most important difficulties that must be faced by philosophical semantics: namely, the threat posed by holism. Three important questions lie at the core of this book: what are the main objectives of semantics; why are they worthwhile; how should we accomplish them? Devitt answers these 'methodological' questions naturalistically and explores what semantic programme arises from the answers. The approach is anti-Cartesian, rejecting the idea that linguistic or conceptual competence yields any privileged access to meanings. This new methodology is used first against holism. Devitt argues for a truth-referential localism, and in the process rejects direct-reference, two-factor, and verificationist theories. The book concludes by arguing against revisionism, eliminativism, and the idea that we should ascribe narrow meanings to explain behaviour.

Reviews

‘On the whole, this is a serious, realistic piece of applied philosophy, one that this particular much-polluted piece of the intellectual landscape can very well do with.’

Source: Philosophy

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