What Is Meaning?

Description

The tradition descending from Frege and Russell has typically treated theories of meaning either as theories of meanings (propositions expressed), or as theories of truth conditions. However, propositions of the classical sort don't exist, and truth conditions can't provide all the information required by a theory of meaning. In this book, one of t

Scott Soames is professor of philosophy at the University of Southern California. His books include" Philosophy of Language, Philosophical Essays, Reference and Description", and "Philosophical Analysis in the Twentieth Century" (all Princeton).

"This is an outstanding book, probably the best philosophy book I have read this year... The book will not only be of great importance to professional philosophers and linguists but it will also be an accessible and invaluable asset to students."--Anthony Everett, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews "Derived from three lectures at Soochow University, Taipei, this book retains the relatively informal style that must have made those lectures both enjoyable and highly informative."--Choice "Soames's excellent book will drive research on this important topic for some time to come."--Brian Ball, Canadian Journal of Philosophy "Scott Soames' new book, What Is Meaning?, is an important book, both in the issues it raises and in its shortcomings. It is the first serious discussion of meaning (not 'semantic content' or some other term designed to sidestep the real issue) by a leading analytic philosopher of language in a long while, and its findings lead to a more realistic understanding of meaning and language."--Sergeiy Sandler, European Legacy