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. |
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Page vii
... problem of objective description of experience , by which we mean unambiguous communication . Niels Bohr , 1954 It is a major triumph of science to have evolved a language which is largely independent of culture . Colin Cherry , 1957 ...
... problem of objective description of experience , by which we mean unambiguous communication . Niels Bohr , 1954 It is a major triumph of science to have evolved a language which is largely independent of culture . Colin Cherry , 1957 ...
Page xii
... problem as scientific. The farmer who goes to church and prays for rain is reverting to an earlier system of supercategories. (Some farmers may do both.) Each supercategory always presupposes some hierarchy. A variety of lower-order ...
... problem as scientific. The farmer who goes to church and prays for rain is reverting to an earlier system of supercategories. (Some farmers may do both.) Each supercategory always presupposes some hierarchy. A variety of lower-order ...
Page 2
... problems as we encounter in everyday communication. Unless and until such problems can be recognized and resolved, scientists risk mis- describing their findings not only to one another and the general public, but to themselves. They ...
... problems as we encounter in everyday communication. Unless and until such problems can be recognized and resolved, scientists risk mis- describing their findings not only to one another and the general public, but to themselves. They ...
Page 7
... problem Aristotle applies his own doctrine of 'causes'. Nevertheless, the zoological facts he reports can be organized and interrelated in any one of a number of ways, depending on the interests of the inquirer. Aristotle bluntly ...
... problem Aristotle applies his own doctrine of 'causes'. Nevertheless, the zoological facts he reports can be organized and interrelated in any one of a number of ways, depending on the interests of the inquirer. Aristotle bluntly ...
Page 12
... problem rather, qua philosopher, was how to deal with the linguistic fallout from that transformation. * * * There is nothing special pertaining to medicine or physiology in particular that affects the linguistic requirement per se: the ...
... problem rather, qua philosopher, was how to deal with the linguistic fallout from that transformation. * * * There is nothing special pertaining to medicine or physiology in particular that affects the linguistic requirement per se: the ...
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