36.2027, Books: The Question of Linguistic Idealism: Gaskin (2025)

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LINGUIST List: Vol-36-2027. Tue Jul 01 2025. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 36.2027, Books: The Question of Linguistic Idealism: Gaskin (2025)

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Date: 30-Jun-2025
From: Oxford University Press [Rachel.HAVARD at oup.com]
Subject: The Question of Linguistic Idealism: Gaskin (2025)


Title: The Question of Linguistic Idealism
Publication Year: 2025

Publisher: Oxford University Press
           http://www.oup.com/us
Book URL:
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-question-of-linguistic-idealism-9780192872654?utm_source=linguistlist&utm_medium=listserv&utm_campaign=linguistics

Author(s): Richard Gaskin

Hardcover (9780192872654)

Abstract:

The chapters in this volume address the question to what extent the
doctrine of linguistic idealism is coherent and plausible. Linguistic
idealism, as defined here, holds that both the existence and the (very
general) structure of the world are in some sense dependent on the
existence and the structure of language. The interest of the thesis is
that, since human language is an evolved, empirical phenomenon, it
would be surprising and significant if the world, which existed long
before human beings came into being and is in many respects quite
obviously independent of them, were somehow beholden to the fact that
human beings can talk about it. That, nevertheless, is the claim. Much
of the discussion of linguistic idealism revolves around making the
definition of it both precise and interesting, whether for purposes of
attack or defence.
The Question of Linguistic Idealism opens with an introduction that
presents a general argument for linguistic idealism and examines the
way in which that position figures in the writings of Ludwig
Wittgenstein and Elizabeth Anscombe. The authors in this collection
cover a wide range of possible approaches to linguistic idealism. Some
support the position in one version or another; others are hostile.
All the contributions are both historically aware and engaged with
systematic considerations, but in some the emphasis is placed on
historical aspects of the problem-here the focus is particularly on
the writings of Kant and Wittgenstein-whereas others adopt a more
systematic approach. Each philosopher addresses their chosen aspect of
the general topic in (broadly speaking) metaphysical terms, but the
bearing of modern linguistic theory on the thesis of linguistic
idealism, as well as its connections with mathematical results and
practice, play a role in some of the contributions as well.

Linguistic Field(s): Philosophy of Language




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