Language in the world

Description

What makes the words we speak mean what they do? Possible-worlds semantics articulates the view that the meanings of words contribute to determining, for each sentence, which possible worlds would make the sentence true, and which would make it false. M. J. Cresswell argues that the non-semantic facts on which such semantic facts supervene are facts about the causal interactions between the linguistic behaviour of speakers and the facts in the world that they are speaking about, and that the kind of causation involved is best analysed using David Lewis's account of causation in terms of counterfactuals. Although philosophers have worked on the question of the connection between meaning and linguistic behaviour, it has mostly been without regard to the work done in possible-worlds semantics, and Language in the world is the first book-length examination of this problem.

First Sentence

This book is concerned with what makes one interpretation of a language the correct one and another the wrong one.

Excerpt

This book is concerned with what makes one interpretation of a language the correct one and another the wrong one.

Subjects

Series Statement

• Cambridge studies in philosophy

Other Editions

• Language in the world: a philosophical enquiryCambridge University Press1994-01-01
• Language in the WorldCambridge University Press2009-01-01
• Language in the WorldPaperbackCambridge University Press2009-02-01
• Language in the WorldCambridge University Press2011-01-01