Modality and Meaning

Softcover Nachdruck of the original 1. Auflage 1994
ISBN: 978-0-7923-3007-3
Verlag: Springer Netherlands

Buch, Englisch, Band 53, 338 Seiten, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 233 mm, Gewicht: 1130 g

Reihe: Studies in Linguistics and Philosophy

Part I of this book presents a theory of modal metaphysics in the possible-worlds tradition. `Worlds' themselves are understood as structured sets of properties; this `Ersatzist' view is defended against its most vigorous competitors, Meinongianism and David Lewis' theory of existent concrete worlds. Related issues of essentialism and linguistic reference are explored.
Part II takes up the question of lexical meaning in the context of possible-world semantics. There are skeptical analyses of analyticity and the notion of a logical constant; and an `infinite polysemy' thesis is defended.
The book will be of particular interest to metaphysicians, possible-world semanticists, philosophers of language, and linguists concerned with lexical semantics.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Lycan, W. G.

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Semantik & Pragmatik
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Sprachwissenschaften Sprachphilosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Sprachphilosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Philosophische Logik, Argumentationstheorie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Metaphysik, Ontologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

I Modality.- 1. The Trouble with Possible Worlds.- 2. Three Conceptions of Possible Worlds.- 3. Ersatzing for Fun and Profit.- 4. Against Concretism.- 5. Essences.- 6. Fiction and Essence.- 7. The Paradox of Naming Resolved by a Kinder, Gentler Theory of Direct Reference.- 8. Relative Modality.- II Meaning.- 9. Semantic Competence, Funny Functors, and Truth-Conditions.- 10. Logical Constants and the Glory of Truth- Conditional Semantics.- 11. Propositions and Analyticity.- 12. Stipulative Definition and Logical Truth.- 13. Analogy and Lexical Semantics.- Name Index.