Truth and Other Enigmas - Softcover

Dummett, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0674910761 ISBN 13: 9780674910768

Publisher: Harvard University Press, 1978

Synopsis

This collection of Michael Dummett’s philosophical essays, spanning more than twenty years, ranges in topic from time to the philosophy of mathematics, but is unified by a steady philosophical outlook. The essays are, in one way or another, informed by Dummett’s concern with metaphysical questions and his belief that the correct approach to them is via the theory of meaning. Reflected here is Dummett’s conviction that the concept of truth is of central importance both for the theory of meaning and for metaphysics. As he sees it, an adequate elucidation of the concept of truth requires nothing less than the construction of a satisfactory theory of meaning. At the same time, resolution of the traditional problems of metaphysics turns critically upon the way in which the concept of truth applies to each of various large ranges of statements, and especially upon whether the statements in each such range satisfy the principle that every statement must be true or false.

The book includes all Dummett’s philosophical essays that were published or given as public lectures before August 1976, with the exception of a few he did not think it worthwhile to reprint and of the two entitled “What Is a Theory of Meaning?” One essay appears here for the first time in English and two have not been previously published. In an extensive preface, Dummett comments on the essays and seeks to relate them to the philosophical background against which they were written.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

'These writings. . .explore the theory of meaning as pivotally important fro the analysis of truth and. . .traditional metaphysical questions. . .Dummett's work is technical but always lucid, and it is of fundamental importance.' - Choice

About the Author:

Michael Dummett was Wykeham Professor of Logic, Emeritus, at the University of Oxford.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Publication date: 1978
• ISBN 10: 0674910761
• ISBN 13: 9780674910768
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 528