Locke's Philosophy of Language [Paperback]

Examines John Locke's claims about the nature and workings of language.This book examines John Locke's claims about the nature and workings of language. Walter Ott proposes a new interpretation of Locke's thesis that words signify ideas in the mind of the speaker, and argues that rather than employing such notions as sense or reference, Locke relies on an ancient tradition that understands signification as reliable indication. He then uses this interpretation to explain crucial areas of Locke's metaphysics and epistemology. His discussion will be of interest to historians of philosophy and philosophers of language alike.This book examines John Locke's claims about the nature and workings of language. Walter Ott proposes a new interpretation of Locke's thesis that words signify ideas in the mind of the speaker, and argues that rather than employing such notions as sense or reference, Locke relies on an ancient tradition that understands signification as reliable indication. He then uses this interpretation to explain crucial areas of Locke's metaphysics and epistemology. His discussion will be of interest to historians of philosophy and philosophers of language alike.Walter Ott proposes a new interpretation of John Locke's thesis--that words signify ideas in the mind of the speaker. Ott argues that Locke relies on an ancient tradition that defines signification as reliable indication. He then uses this interpretation to analyze crucial areas of Locke's metaphysics and epistemology.Acknowledgements; Note on textual references; Introduction; 1. Signs and signification; 2. Particles and propositions; 3. Essence and abstraction; 4. Locke contra the Aristotelians: signification and definition; 5. Beyond the bounds of sense?; 6. The reception of Locke's philosophy of language; 7. Conclusion; Bibliography; Index. This is a first-rate contribution to Locke studies and to what might be called the 'prehistory' of the philosophy of language. Ott sets Locke's theory of significal,