To the philosopher, the logician, and the linguist, questions have a special fascination. The two main views of language, that it describes the world, and that it expresses thought, are not directly applicable to questions. Ques- tions are not assertions. A question may be apt, sharp, to the point, impor- tant, or it may be inappropriate, ambiguous, awkward, irrelevant or irreverent. But it cannot be true or false. It does not have a truth value not just because an utterance like Was the letter long? does not indicate which ...
Read More
To the philosopher, the logician, and the linguist, questions have a special fascination. The two main views of language, that it describes the world, and that it expresses thought, are not directly applicable to questions. Ques- tions are not assertions. A question may be apt, sharp, to the point, impor- tant, or it may be inappropriate, ambiguous, awkward, irrelevant or irreverent. But it cannot be true or false. It does not have a truth value not just because an utterance like Was the letter long? does not indicate which letter is being talked about. The indicative The letter was not long has the same indeter- minacy. In actual context the anaphoric definite article will be resolved both for a question and for an indicative sentence. Contextual resolutions are easily found for most cross-references. A question cannot be either true or it does not describe a state of affairs. Neither does it express false, because thought, because it is an expression of suspended thought, of lack of judge- ment. To dress it in other philosophical styles, a question is not a judgment, it is not a proposition, it is not an assertion. A philosopher may try to paraphrase a question as an indicative sentence, for instance as a statement of ignorance, or as a statement of the desire to know. Hintikka, Wachowicz and Lang explore this territory. Or he may interpret it as a meta statement intimating the direction in which the flow of the discourse is going.
Read Less
Add this copy of Questions (Studies in Linguistics and Philosophy) to cart. $25.77, like new condition, Sold by Zubal Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Cleveland, OH, UNITED STATES, published 1979 by D. Reidel.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
388 pp., Paperback, fine. -If you are reading this, this item is actually (physically) in our stock and ready for shipment once ordered. We are not bookjackers. Buyer is responsible for any additional duties, taxes, or fees required by recipient's country.
Add this copy of Questions to cart. $51.65, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 1979 by Springer.
Add this copy of Questions to cart. $71.22, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1979 by Springer.
Add this copy of Questions (Synthese Language Library Volume 1) to cart. $38.31, good condition, Sold by Literary Cat Books rated 2.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Machynlleth, Powys, WALES, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1978 by D. Reidel Publishing Company.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good with no dustjacket. 366 pages. With diagrams. With library stamps & labels. Slight wear to spine, covers & corners; Ex-Library; Octavo (standard book size)
