Language and the Pursuit of Truth

Language and the Pursuit of Truth

John Wilson

CONTENTS

Preface

Select Bibliography

Chapter I. WORDS

A. THE FUNCTION OF WORDS

B. TYPES OF WORDS

1. Descriptive words 2. Evaluative words 3. 'Pointer' words 4. Interjections

C. MISTAKES ABOUT WORDS

1. Magic 2. Ambiguity

Chapter II. STATEMENTS

A. THE FUNCTION OF STATEMENTS

1. Poetic communication 2. Prose communication

B. VERIFICATION

C. TYPES OF STATEMENTS

1. Imperatives and attitude-statements 2. Empirical statements 3. Analytic statements 4. Value statements 5. Metaphysical statements

Chapter III. TRUTH

A. THE CONDITIONS OF TRUTH

B. THE BASIS OF MEANING AND VERIFICATION

C. VALUE STATEMENTS

D. METAPHYSICAL STATEMENTS

E. PREJUDICE