What Is This Thing Called Philosophy of Language?
📘 About This Book
Philosophy of language explores some of the fundamental yet most technical problems in philosophy, such as meaning and reference, semantics, and propositional attitudes. Some of its greatest exponents, including Gottlob Frege, Ludwig Wittgenstein and Bertrand Russell are amongst the major figures in the history of philosophy. In this clear and carefully structured introduction to the subject Gary Kemp explains the following key topics: the basic nature of philosophy of language and its historical development early arguments concerning the role of meaning, including cognitive meaning vs expressivism, context and compositionality Frege's arguments concerning sense and reference; non-existent objects Russell and the theory of definite descriptions modern theories including Kripke and Putnam; arguments concerning necessity, analyticity and natural kind terms indexicality, context and modality. What are indexicals? Davidson's theory of language and the 'principle of charity' propositional attitudes Quine's naturalism and its consequences for philosophy of language. Chapter summaries, annotated further reading and a glossary make this an indispensable introduction to those teaching philosophy of language and will be particularly useful for students coming to the subject for the first time.
📖 Summary
Gary Kemp's book What Is This Thing Called Philosophy of Language offers a clear and carefully structured introduction to one of the most fundamental yet technical areas of philosophical inquiry. Spanning 226 pages and published in 2013, the text invites readers to explore the intricate relationships between language, meaning, reference, and reality. Philosophy of language deals with problems that have occupied some of the greatest minds in the history of philosophy, figures such as Gottlob Frege, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and Bertrand Russell. Kemp successfully navigates these dense theoretical waters, guiding beginners and curious thinkers through the foundational questions of how words connect to the world and how human communication actually functions. The book begins by establishing the basic nature of the philosophy of language and tracing its historical development. Kemp lays out early arguments concerning the various roles that meaning plays in human discourse, distinguishing between cognitive meaning and expressivism, while also exploring how context and compositionality shape our understanding of sentences. From there, the text delves deeply into the monumental contributions of Frege, examining his influential arguments concerning sense and reference, as well as the puzzles surrounding non-existent objects. Readers are then introduced to Russell and his famous theory of definite descriptions, which revolutionized how philosophers analyze propositions involving specific entities. The journey continues into modern theories, engaging with the pivotal ideas of thinkers like Saul Kripke and Hilary Putnam, whose work transformed contemporary semantics and philosophy of language. Throughout the book, Kemp balances historical context with rigorous analytical breakdown, ensuring that complex subjects like semantics and propositional attitudes remain accessible without sacrificing intellectual depth. By the final pages, readers gain a comprehensive overview of how linguistic analysis underpins broader philosophical debates about truth, mind, and reality. This thoughtful guide serves as an ideal stepping stone for anyone looking to master the core problems, historical milestones, and modern trajectories of the philosophy of language.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Provides a clear and carefully structured introduction to a technical subject
Covers essential historical milestones and major thinkers thoroughly
Bridges early semantic arguments with modern theories effectively
Maintains an accessible tone while addressing complex philosophical problems
⚠️ Cons
Can be dense and challenging for absolute beginners due to the technical nature of the subject
Relatively short page count means some advanced topics receive brief treatment
❓ FAQ
Who wrote What Is This Thing Called Philosophy of Language? +
The book was written by Gary Kemp and published in 2013.
What major historical figures are covered in the book? +
The book covers major figures in the history of philosophy including Gottlob Frege, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and Bertrand Russell.
What core topics does the book explore? +
It explores meaning, reference, semantics, propositional attitudes, cognitive meaning versus expressivism, context, and compositionality.
Does the book cover modern theories of language? +
Yes, it includes modern theories and covers the contributions of thinkers such as Saul Kripke and Hilary Putnam.
How many pages long is the book? +
The book spans 226 pages.
