Fact and Meaning: Quine and Wittgenstein on Philosophy of Language

Abstract

Part 1: varieties of realism minimal realism reflecting on minimal realism realism, idealism and empericism realism, relativism and intersubjectivity. Part 2 Instrumentation and meaning of scepticism Quine's arguments for the indeterminacy of translation setting up a predictive sentence machine indeterminacy of function and meaning instrumentalism and the revisability of logic. Part 3 Quine's naturalized empiricism: Quine's epistemology ontological relativity and disquotation Quine's version of realism should empiricism be naturalized?. Part 4 The Mona Lisa mosaic: semantic holism holism and indeterminacy - the mosaic analogy holism, indeterminacy and language can we restore determinacy?. Part 5 The slide into the abyss: the incompatibility of realism and meaning of scepticism thoroughgoing pragmatism Wittgenstein and pragmatism empiricism and Platonism. Part 6 The dissolving mirror: Wittgenstein's hostility to mirroring realism explanation and the absolute conception Kripke and norms. Part 7 Interpretations and misinterpretations: speech acts and language games Wittgenstein and anti-realism. Part 8 Interests, activities and meanings: proof and new concepts conceptual change and determinacy of sense other forms of life? modal realism facts about meaning.