Referring to the World - An Opinionated Introduction to the Theory of Reference

This book is a contribution to ongoing debates in the philosophy of language about reference and truth. The ideas discussed have been important not only in philosophy but in logic, linguistics, psychology, computer science and other areas concerned with thought and communication. Taylor was an important philosopher and led Stanford's influential Symbolic Systems Program, graduates of which are leaders in Silicon Valley. The book is not elementary, but it presents rich and subtle products of his years of thought on important topics with many examples and clear discussions.

List of contents

• Chapter 1: The Mystery of Reference and Objective Representational Content


• Chapter 2: Inner Fitness and Outer Cause: The Two Factors of Content


• Chapter 3: Against Jazz Combo Theories of Meaning and Reference


• Chapter 4: Puzzles of Coreference: Theme and Variations


• Chapter 5: Concepts, Conceptions in the Psychology of the Referring Mind


• Chapter 6: Representing Representations: The Priority of the De Re


• Chapter 7: The Things We Do With Empty Names


• Works Cited

About the author

Kenneth A. Taylor was Professor of Philosophy at Stanford University from 1995 until his death in 2019.

Summary

Our words and ideas refer to objects and properties in the external world; this phenomenon is central to thought, language, communication, and science. But great works of fiction are full of names that don't seem to refer to anything! In this book Kenneth A. Taylor explores the myriad of problems that surround the phenomenon of reference. How can words in language and perturbations in our brains come to stand for external objects? Reference is essential to truth, but which is more basic: reference or truth? How can fictional characters play such an important role in imagination and literature, and how does this use of language connect with more mundane uses?

Taylor develops a framework for understanding reference, and the theories that other thinkers-past and present-have developed about it. But Taylor doesn't simply tell us what others thought; the book is full of new ideas and analyses, making for a vital final contribution from a seminal philosopher.

Additional text

The analyses are strikingly well written

Product details

• Authors: Kenneth A. Taylor, Kenneth A. (Professor of Philosophy Taylor
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.07.2021
• EAN: 9780195144741
• ISBN: 978-0-19-514474-1
• No. of pages: 312
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative linguistics; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Mathematics > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Miscellaneous; Philosophy of Language, Linguistics, PHILOSOPHY / Epistemology, PHILOSOPHY / Language, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General, MATHEMATICS / History & Philosophy, PSYCHOLOGY / Cognitive Psychology & Cognition, Cognition & cognitive psychology, Philosophy of Mathematics, Cognition and cognitive psychology, Philosophy: epistemology & theory of knowledge, Philosophy: epistemology and theory of knowledge