Understanding Misunderstanding: Locke Holds the Key

by Terence Moore

In a bold experiment linguist Terence Moore holds a series of conversations in 21st century language with 17th century philosopher, John Locke. Lively and engaging their conversations initially focus on Locke s radical insights into language and its workings insights that are highly pertinent to our use of language today. Central to their discussions is Locke s fundamental notion secret reference which reveals how, when using language to communicate, we are all engaged in a tacit communal conspiracy, a universal assumption that what we mean by words other do too. In fact things are not so simple. Locke argues that words do not contain meanings; words only spark meanings in the mind. And minds differ, opening the way for misunderstanding. Locke and Moore tease out the implications of secret reference in wide-ranging discussions that take us from morality through happiness to Orwell and Chomsky and governments strategies to manufacture consent .

Paperback