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Originally published in 1981. This is a book for the final year undergraduate or first year graduate who intends to proceed with serious research in philosophical logic. It will be welcomed by both lecturers and students for its careful consideration of main themes ranging from Gricean accounts of meaning to two dimensional modal logic.
The first part of the book is concerned with the nature of the semantic theorist's project, and particularly with the crucial concepts of meaning, truth, and semantic structure. The second and third parts deal with various constructions that are found in natural languages: names, quantifiers, definite descriptions, and modal operators. Throughout, while assuming some familiarity with philosophical logic and elementary formal logic, the text provides a clear exposition. It brings together related ideas, and in some places refines and improves upon existing accounts.
List of contents
Preface Part 1: Meaning and Truth 1. Meaning 2. Truth 3. Structure 4. Understanding Part 2: Quantification and Reference 5. Names 6. Quantifiers 7. Descriptions Part 3: Necessity and Actuality 8. Necessity 9. Actuality
About the author
Martin Davies grew up in north-west England. All his writing is done in cafes, on buses or on trains, and all his first drafts are written in longhand. He has travelled widely, including in the Middle East, India and Sicily. In addition to the Holmes & Hudson Mysteries, he is the author of four other novels, including The Conjurer's Bird, which sold over 150,000 copies and was selected for the Richard & Judy Book Club and Havana Sleeping, which has been shortlisted for the 2015 CWA Historical Dagger award. He works as a consultant in the broadcasting industry.
Summary
Originally published in 1981. This book brings together related ideas surrounding the crucial concepts of meaning, truth, and semantic structure. Throughout, while assuming some familiarity with philosophical logic and elementary formal logic, the text provides a clear exposition.
