Coming to Our Senses: A Naturalistic Program for Semantic Localism

Michael Devitt

Cambridge University Press, 1996 - Health & Fitness - 338 pages

Michael Devitt is a distinguished philosopher of language. In this new book he takes up issues in semantics. Three important questions lie at the core of this book: What are the main objectives of semantics? Why are they worthwhile? How should we accomplish them? Devitt answers these "methodological" questions naturalistically and explores what semantic program arises from the answers. The approach is anti-Cartesian, rejecting the idea that linguistic or conceptual competence yields any privileged access to meanings. Devitt argues for a truth-referential localism and in the process rejects direct-reference, two-factor, and verificationist theories. The book concludes by arguing against revisionism, eliminativism, and the idea that we should ascribe narrow meanings to explain behavior.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Coming to Our Senses: A Naturalistic Program for Semantic Localism; Cambridge Studies in Philosophy, ISSN 0950-6306; Cambridge studies in philosophy and public policy; Coming to Our Senses: A Naturalistic Program for Semantic Localism, Michael Devitt
• Author: Michael Devitt
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1996
• ISBN: 0521498872, 9780521498876
• Length: 338 pages
• Subjects: Health & Fitness / Holism; Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / Semantics; Philosophy / Epistemology; Philosophy / Language; Philosophy / Logic; Philosophy / Movements / Analytic