Thinking Out Loud (ebook)

Argumento de Thinking Out Loud (ebook)

Most contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and linguists think of language as basically a means by which speakers reveal their thoughts to others. Christopher Gauker calls this "the Lockean theory of language," since Locke was one of its early exponents, and he contends that it is fundamentally mistaken. The Lockean theory, he argues, cannot adequately explain the nature of the general concepts that words are supposed to express. In developing this theme, Gauker investigates a wide range of topics, including Locke's own views, contemporary theories of conceptual development, the nature of reference and logical validity, the nature of psychological explanation, and the division of epistemic labor in society.

The Lockean theory contrasts with the conception of language as the medium of a distinctive kind of thinking. Gauker explains how language, so conceived, is possible as a means of cooperative interaction. He articulates the possibility and objectivity of a kind of non-conceptual thinking about similarities and causal relations, which allows him to explain how a simple language might be learned. He then takes on the problem of logical structure and gives a formally precise account of logical validity formulated in terms of "assertibility in a context" rather than in terms of truth. Finally, he describes the role that attributions of belief and meaning play in facilitating cooperative interaction. With lucid and persuasive arguments, his book challenges philosophers, psychologists, linguists, and logicians to rethink their fundamental assumptions about the nature of language.

Originally published in 1994.

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"Anyone interested in what is called 'cognitive science' should read this book. [It] is an original, ambitious, and comprehensive work."--Lynne Rudder Baker, University of Massachusetts at Amherst0Preface Introduction 3 Pt. A Destructive 9 1 Contra Locke 11 2 Communication 32 3 Mental Content 51 4 Conceptual Development 72 5 Psychological Laws 96 6 Reference 116 7 Validity 133 Pt. B Constructive 155 8 Similarity Judgments 157 9 Causal Judgments 178 10 Command and Assertion 202 11 Structure and Assertibility 225 12 Context Logic 248 13 Interpretation 271 14 Interpretationism 293 References 313 Index 323