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The Nature and Structure of Content
Belief in propositions has had a long and distinguished history in analytic philosophy. Three of the founding fathers of analytic philosophy, Gottlob Frege, Bertrand Russell, and G. E. Moore, believed in propositions. Many philosophers since then have shared this belief; and the belief is
widely, though certainly not universally, accepted among philosophers today. Among contemporary philosophers who believe in propositions, many, and perhaps even most, take them to be structured entities with individuals, properties, and relations as constituents. For example, the proposition that
Glenn loves Tracy has Glenn, the loving relation, and Tracy as constituents. What is it, then, that binds these constituents together and imposes structure on them? And if the proposition that Glenn loves Tracy is distinct from the proposition that Tracy loves Glenn yet both have the same
constituents, what is about the way these constituents are structured or bound together that makes them two different propositions?
In The Nature and Structure of Content , Jeffrey C. King formulates a detailed account of the metaphysical nature of propositions, and provides fresh answers to the above questions. In addition to explaining what it is that binds together the constituents of structured propositions and imposes
structure on them, King deals with some of the standard objections to accounts of he shows that there is no mystery about what propositions are; that given certain minimal assumptions, it follows that they exist; and that on his approach, we can see how and why propositions manage to
have truth conditions and represent the world as being a certain way. The Nature and Structure of Content also contains a detailed account of the nature of tense and modality, and provides a solution to the paradox of analysis.
Scholars and students working in the philosophy of mind and language will find this book rewarding reading.
widely, though certainly not universally, accepted among philosophers today. Among contemporary philosophers who believe in propositions, many, and perhaps even most, take them to be structured entities with individuals, properties, and relations as constituents. For example, the proposition that
Glenn loves Tracy has Glenn, the loving relation, and Tracy as constituents. What is it, then, that binds these constituents together and imposes structure on them? And if the proposition that Glenn loves Tracy is distinct from the proposition that Tracy loves Glenn yet both have the same
constituents, what is about the way these constituents are structured or bound together that makes them two different propositions?
In The Nature and Structure of Content , Jeffrey C. King formulates a detailed account of the metaphysical nature of propositions, and provides fresh answers to the above questions. In addition to explaining what it is that binds together the constituents of structured propositions and imposes
structure on them, King deals with some of the standard objections to accounts of he shows that there is no mystery about what propositions are; that given certain minimal assumptions, it follows that they exist; and that on his approach, we can see how and why propositions manage to
have truth conditions and represent the world as being a certain way. The Nature and Structure of Content also contains a detailed account of the nature of tense and modality, and provides a solution to the paradox of analysis.
Scholars and students working in the philosophy of mind and language will find this book rewarding reading.
- GenresPhilosophyMetaphysics
240 pages, Hardcover
First published April 26, 2007
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April 23, 2016
Basically, this is a rehash of King's article "What is a Philosophical Analysis?" with some addenda. If you're interested in King's replies to various criticisms, this is where it's done. On the other hand, if you want to know more about structured propositions, this is only slightly more in-depth than the aforementioned article.
Displaying 1 of 1 review