The Semantics of ScienceA&C Black, 2005 M04 15 - 240 pages The Semantics of Science proposes a radical new rethinking of science and scientific discourse. Roy Harris argues that supercategories such as science, art, religion and history are themselves verbal constructs, and thus language-dependent. Because each supercategory is constructed differently, it is necessary to pay attention to the linguistic process by which a discourse such as 'science' has developed. Through this view it is possible to observe that the function of the supercategory is to integrate what would otherwise be separate activities and enquiries, and the result of this integration is therefore a re-drawing of the intellectual world that society as a whole adopts. In the course of his study of The Semantics of Science Roy Harris looks at the history and development of scientific discourse to show through language that what is meant by science has changed since it was first theorised by the Greeks. Harris traces the semantic development of 'science' through the years of the Royal Society to the present day, moving on to an analysis of rhetoric, mathematics, common sense and finally the supercategory of semantics. This lucidly written yet radical new theory on the language of science will be fascinating reading for academics and students researching semantics, semiotics or applied linguistics. |
From inside the book
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Page viii
... perhaps in the end they could be reduced to just two . If so , and in advance of any debate about how precisely to define the words science and language , these two questions would be : ' What does science require of language ? ' and ...
... perhaps in the end they could be reduced to just two . If so , and in advance of any debate about how precisely to define the words science and language , these two questions would be : ' What does science require of language ? ' and ...
Page ix
... perhaps point out that although Bazerman refers to 'integrative machinery' and 'inte- grative apparatus' in scientific writing, the reader should not suppose that this alludes in any way to integration as a theoretical concept in ...
... perhaps point out that although Bazerman refers to 'integrative machinery' and 'inte- grative apparatus' in scientific writing, the reader should not suppose that this alludes in any way to integration as a theoretical concept in ...
Page xiii
... perhaps I should say at the outset that in my view the discipline called 'history of science' has laboured hitherto under the joint tyranny of two linguistic fallacies. One involves searching for the earliest uses of 'the word science ...
... perhaps I should say at the outset that in my view the discipline called 'history of science' has laboured hitherto under the joint tyranny of two linguistic fallacies. One involves searching for the earliest uses of 'the word science ...
Page 3
... alternative, sooner or later communication between them seems destined to break down. Scientists on the whole tend to favour reocentrism over psychocentrism, — and some – perhaps the majority – regard that Introduction 3.
... alternative, sooner or later communication between them seems destined to break down. Scientists on the whole tend to favour reocentrism over psychocentrism, — and some – perhaps the majority – regard that Introduction 3.
Page 4
Roy Harris. — and some – perhaps the majority – regard that commitment to reocentrism as the essential characteristic of the language of science . It is , in their view , a language based on things ' as they really are ' and not just on ...
Roy Harris. — and some – perhaps the majority – regard that commitment to reocentrism as the essential characteristic of the language of science . It is , in their view , a language based on things ' as they really are ' and not just on ...
Contents
1 | |
5 | |
25 | |
3 Semantics and the Royal Society | 47 |
4 Science in the kitchen | 64 |
5 The rhetoric of linguistic science | 83 |
6 Mathematics and the language of science | 106 |
7 Science and common sense | 129 |
8 Supercategory semantics | 152 |
9 Integrating science | 176 |
Appendix 1 Einstein on science and reality | 189 |
Appendix 2 Heisenberg on language | 202 |
References | 209 |
Index | 215 |
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Common terms and phrases
according already Aristotelian Aristotle Aristotle's assumptions basis Betty Bloomfield Bohr Boyle’s law Bridgman called Carnap claim classical physics communication concept copper correspondence counting defined Demiurge described discourse distinction Einstein everyday example existing experience explain fact fixed code fixed-code geography Greek Harré Heisenberg Heisenberg 1989 Holt-Jensen human idea inquiry integration integrationist kind knowledge Kuhn language of science language user linguistic logic material objects mathematics means measurement Medawar metaphysical modern names Nature Neogrammarian notion number-words observation ordinary language paradigm particular philosophy of language philosophy of science physics possible pre-scientific principles problem proposed psychocentric question reference relativity of simultaneity reocentric reocentric semantics rhetoric rhetoric of science Saussure scientific method scientists seems semantics of science sense signs simultaneity space spagyrists Sprat statement supercategory suppose symbols syntax Thales theory things tion trajectory truth understand verbal Vienna Circle Wilkins words