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
Results 1-5 of 93
Page vii
... question of what marks out the kind ( s ) of vocabulary and syntax that scientists choose in order to write about their work , there lies a much deeper question concerning the assumptions about language that scientists make in their ...
... question of what marks out the kind ( s ) of vocabulary and syntax that scientists choose in order to write about their work , there lies a much deeper question concerning the assumptions about language that scientists make in their ...
Page viii
... question ' What is sci- ence ? ' . I do not think that is possible . Most of the issues I wish to raise fall within ... questions about the interface between scientific and linguistic inquiry . At first sight there are many such ...
... question ' What is sci- ence ? ' . I do not think that is possible . Most of the issues I wish to raise fall within ... questions about the interface between scientific and linguistic inquiry . At first sight there are many such ...
Page xi
... question of religion; now it is almost entirely a question of science.' What does this mean in practice? Murray puts it as follows: In antiquity, if a field was barren, the owner of it would probably assume that the barrenness was due ...
... question of religion; now it is almost entirely a question of science.' What does this mean in practice? Murray puts it as follows: In antiquity, if a field was barren, the owner of it would probably assume that the barrenness was due ...
Page xiii
... question of why or how they all qualify as belonging to the super- category. It is also interesting to note how the question is posed. What is Science? sounds like a Socratic question (cf. 'What is justice?'), whereas What is this thing ...
... question of why or how they all qualify as belonging to the super- category. It is also interesting to note how the question is posed. What is Science? sounds like a Socratic question (cf. 'What is justice?'), whereas What is this thing ...
Page xiv
... questions worth pursu- ing . The answers , I believe , are to be found in the ways in which , throughout the Western tradition , both the scientists and those who interpret their ... question , in my view , is what semantic xiv Preface.
... questions worth pursu- ing . The answers , I believe , are to be found in the ways in which , throughout the Western tradition , both the scientists and those who interpret their ... question , in my view , is what semantic xiv Preface.
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