Semantical Essays: Possible Worlds and their Rivals

di M.J. Cresswell (Autore)

Kluwer Academic Publishers Group, 1988

Over a longer period than I sometimes care to contemplate I have worked on possible-worlds semantics. The earliest work was in modal logic, to which I keep returning, but a sabbatical in 1970 took me to UCLA, there to discover the work of Richard Montague in applying possible-worlds semantics to natural lan­ guage. My own version of this appeared in Cresswell (1973) and was followed up in a number of articles, most of which were collected in Cresswell (1985b). A central problem for possible­ worlds semantics is how to accommodate propositional attitudes. This problem was addressed in Cresswell (1985a), and the three books mentioned so far represent a reasonably complete picture of my positive views on formal semantics. I have regarded the presentation of a positive view as more important than the criticism of alternatives, although the works referred to do contain many passages in which I have tried to defend my own views against those of others. But such criticism is important in that a crucial element in establishing the content of a theory is that we be able to evaluate it in relation to its com­ petitors. It is for that reason that I have collected in this volume a number of articles in which I attempt to defend the positive semantical picture I favour against objections and competing theories.

• Autore: M.J. Cresswell
• Editore: Kluwer Academic Publishers Group
• Collana: Studies in Linguistics and Philosophy
• Anno: 1988
• Rilegatura: Hardback
• Pagine: 212 p.
• Dimensioni: 235 x 155 mm
• EAN: 9781556080616

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