Meaning And NecessityA Study In Semantics And Modal Logic
- 226 pages
- 8 hours of reading
Rudolf Carnap was a pivotal figure in logical positivism, a German-born philosopher who profoundly influenced 20th-century thought. He argued that metaphysical statements lack meaning because they cannot be empirically verified. Carnap contended that many philosophical problems are illusory, stemming from the misuse of language. His work significantly advanced the philosophy of science and language.







This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1977.
Focusing on a new approach to semantical analysis, the book introduces the method of extension and intension, which redefines the understanding of linguistic meanings. By modifying traditional concepts of class and property, it contrasts this innovative method with conventional semantical approaches that treat expressions as names of entities. Instead, it emphasizes that expressions embody both an intension and an extension, offering a fresh perspective on meaning in language.
A clear, comprehensive & rigorous treatment develops the subject from elementary concepts to the construction & analysis of relatively complex logical languages. It then considers the application of symbolic logic to the clarification & axiomatization of theories in mathematics, physics & biology. Hundreds of problems, examples & exercises.
Available for the first time in 20 years, here are two important works from the 1920s by the best-known representative of the Vienna Circle. In The Logical Structure of the World, Carnap adopts the position of "methodological solipsism" and shows that it is possible to describe the world from the immediate data of experience. In his Pseudoproblems in Philosophy, he asserts that many philosophical problems are meaningless.
Available for the first time in 20 years, here is the Rudolf Carnap's famous “principle of tolerance” by which everyone is free to mix and match the rules of language and logic. In The Logical Syntax of Language, Carnap explains how his entire theory of language structure came to him like a vision when he was ill. He postulates that concepts of the theory of logic are purely syntactical and therefore can be formulated in logical syntax.
The book features a unique format where prominent philosophers are engaged in dialogue with their peers, addressing critical essays that challenge their ideas. Each volume includes the philosopher's responses, an intellectual autobiography, and a current bibliography, fostering a deeper understanding of their work and contributions. This approach aims to clarify interpretations and reduce confusion in philosophical discourse, making it a valuable resource for both scholars and enthusiasts of philosophy.
Based on the belief that statements are meaningful only if they are empirically verifiable, Carnap endeavours to work out a way in which observation statements required for verification are not private to the observer.
One of the most creative philosophers of the 20th century, Rudolf Carnap presented a series of science lectures at the University of California in 1958. The present volume is an outgrowth of that seminar, which dealt with the philosophical foundations of physics. Edited by Martin Gardner from transcripts of Carnap's classroom lectures and discussions, the book remains one of the clearest and soundest introductions to the philosophy of science.Specially designed to appeal to a wide range of readers, An Introduction to thePhilosophy of Science offers accessible coverage of such topics as laws and probability, measurement and quantitative language, the structure of space, causality and determinism, theoretical laws and concepts and much more. Stimulating and thought-provoking, the text will be of interest to philosophers, scientists and anyone interested in logical analysis of the concepts, statements and theories of science. Its clear and readable style help make it "the best book available for the intelligent reader who wants to gain some insight into the nature of contemporary philosophy of science" ― Choice. Foreword to the Basic Books Paperback Edition, 1974 (Gardner); Preface (Carnap); Foreword to the Dover Edition (Gardner). 35 black-and-white illustrations. Bibliography.