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 41
Page 1
... statement was called into question long ago by adopting a heliocentric model of the solar system. The old way of ... statements. Another way of describing this time-lag would be as follows. Since the days of Newton the thinking of ...
... statement was called into question long ago by adopting a heliocentric model of the solar system. The old way of ... statements. Another way of describing this time-lag would be as follows. Since the days of Newton the thinking of ...
Page 2
... statements of science are supposed to mean. Looking at the claims that are made on behalf of the language of science, I notice a certain recurrent pattern. The way scientists tend to interpret their own scientific pronouncements ...
... statements of science are supposed to mean. Looking at the claims that are made on behalf of the language of science, I notice a certain recurrent pattern. The way scientists tend to interpret their own scientific pronouncements ...
Page 3
... statement that may be held to be true under a psychocentric definition of the relevant term or terms may well turn out to be false under the corresponding reocentric def- inition(s). If scientist A adopts a reocentric semantics, while ...
... statement that may be held to be true under a psychocentric definition of the relevant term or terms may well turn out to be false under the corresponding reocentric def- inition(s). If scientist A adopts a reocentric semantics, while ...
Page 6
... statements just quoted are misleading by - products of a rhetoric that flourishes under the aegis of the modern super- category . It incorporates a scale of values in which science ranks as the supreme achievement of the human race ...
... statements just quoted are misleading by - products of a rhetoric that flourishes under the aegis of the modern super- category . It incorporates a scale of values in which science ranks as the supreme achievement of the human race ...
Page 16
... statement. The termin- ology of each inquiry, in short, will require specific words for the various causes encountered in that domain. Only then will it be possible to dis- tinguish one explanation clearly from another. But it is here ...
... statement. The termin- ology of each inquiry, in short, will require specific words for the various causes encountered in that domain. Only then will it be possible to dis- tinguish one explanation clearly from another. But it is here ...
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