Meaning Diminished: Toward Metaphysically Modest Semantics

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Kenneth A. Taylor (Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy, Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy, Stanford University)

Meaning Diminished

Toward Metaphysically Modest Semantics

Kenneth A. Taylor (Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy, Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy, Stanford University)

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English

Oxford University Press
02 May 2019

linguistics; Philosophy of language; Semantics; Analytical philosophy & Logical Positivism; Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology

Meaning Diminished examines the complex relationship between semantic analysis and metaphysical inquiry. Kenneth A. Taylor argues that we should expect linguistic and conceptual analysis of natural language to yield far less metaphysical insight into what there is - and the nature of what there is - than many philosophers have imagined. Taking a strong stand against the so-called linguistic turn in philosophy, Taylor contends that philosophers as diverse as Kant, with his Transcendental Idealism, Frege, with his aspirational Platonism, Carnap with his distinction between internal and external questions, and Strawson, with his descriptive metaphysics, have placed too much confidence in the ability of linguistic and conceptual analysis to achieve deep insight into matters of ultimate metaphysics. He urges philosophers who seek such insight to turn away from the interrogation of language and concepts and back to the more direct interrogation of reality itself. In doing so, he maps out the way forward toward a metaphysically modest semantics, in which semantics carries less weighty metaphysical burdens, and toward a revisionary and naturalistic metaphysics, untethered to the a priori analysis of ordinary language.

By: Kenneth A. Taylor (Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy Stanford University)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 224mm, Width: 142mm, Spine: 16mm
Weight: 386g
ISBN: 9780198803447
ISBN 10: 0198803443
Pages: 222
Publication Date: 02 May 2019
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Preface 1: Semantic Analysis and Metaphysical Inquiry 2: The Metaphysical Modesty of Narrowly Linguistic Semantics 3: The Way of Ideas and the Way of Reference 4: Some Considerations against the Way of Ideas 5: Modesty as Incompleteness: Feature or Bug? 6: Against the Metaphysical Transparency of Semantic Adicity 7: Metaphysical Embarrassment, Indefinite Modifiability and Rules of Use 8: Conclusion: A Way Forward in Semantics and Metaphysics

Kenneth Taylor is Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy at Stanford University. He is also director of Stanford's interdisciplinary program in Symbolic Systems. His work lies at the intersection of the philosophy of language and the philosophy of mind, and he also writes about the metaphysics of normativity. He is the author of many books and articles, as well as the co-host and co-creator of the long-running, nationally syndicated radio program and podcast, Philosophy Talk.