Semantics, Tense, and Time : An Essay in the Metaphysics of Natural Language - Peter Ludlow

Semantics, Tense, and Time

An Essay in the Metaphysics of Natural Language

By: Peter Ludlow

Paperback | 24 September 1999

At a Glance

Paperback


$95.25

or 4 interest-free payments of $23.81 with

 or 

Aims to ship in 10 to 15 business days

When will this arrive by?
Enter delivery postcode to estimate

According to Peter Ludlow, there is a very close relation between the structure of natural language and that of reality, and one can gain insights into long-standing metaphysical questions by studying the semantics of natural language. In this book Ludlow uses the metaphysics of time as a case study and focuses on the dispute between A-theorists and B-theorists about the nature of time. According to B-theorists, there is no genuine change, but a permanent sequence of events ordered by an earlier-than/later-than relation. According to the version of the A-theory adopted by Ludlow (a position sometimes called "presentism"), there are no past or future events or times; what makes something past or future is how the world stands right now.

Ludlow argues that each metaphysical picture is tied to a particular semantical theory of tense and that the dispute can be adjudicated on semantical grounds. A presentism-compatible semantics, he claims, is superior to a B-theory semantics in a number of respects, including its abilities to handle the indexical nature of temporal discourse and to account for facts about language acquisition. Along the way, Ludlow develops a conception of "E-type" temporal anaphora that can account for both temporal anaphora and complex tenses without reference to past and future events. His view has philosophical consequences for theories of logic, self-knowledge, and memory. As for linguistic consequences, Ludlow suggests that the very idea of grammatical tense may have to be dispensed with and replaced with some combination of aspect, modality, and evidentiality.

Industry Reviews
" A notable work in many respects, with an extremely interesting discussion of the prospects for giving the semantics of tense in a tensed metalanguage. "Semantics, Tense, and Time" exemplifies the recent, very productive, evolution of the philosophy of language, with its characteristic amalgam of linguistics, metaphysics, and logic." -- James Higginbotham, Professor of General Linguistics, University of Oxford & quot; A notable work in many respects, with an extremely interesting discussion of the prospects for giving the semantics of tense in a tensed metalanguage. Semantics, Tense, and Time exemplifies the recent, very productive, evolution of the philosophy of language, with its characteristic amalgam of linguistics, metaphysics, and logic.& quot; -- James Higginbotham, Professor of General Linguistics, University of Oxford "A notable work in many respects, with an extremely interesting discussion of the prospects for giving the semantics of tense in a tensed metalanguage. "Semantics, Tense, and Time" exemplifies the recent, very productive, evolution of the philosophy of language, with its characteristic amalgam of linguistics, metaphysics, and logic."--James Higginbotham, Professor of General Linguistics, University of Oxford

More in Drug-Induced States

How To Change Your Mind : New Science of Psychedelics - Michael Pollan
This Is Your Mind On Plants : Opium-Caffeine-Mescaline - Michael Pollan
Cosmic Serpent - Jeremy Narby

RRP $26.99

$25.75

Addictions Counseling Today : Substances and Addictive Behaviors - Kevin G. Alderson
Methods in Mind : Cognitive Neuroscience - Tamara Russell

RRP $100.00

$64.50

35%
OFF
Psychedelic Psychiatry : LSD from Clinic to Campus - Erika Dyck
Tripping : An Anthology of True-Life Psychedelic Adventures - Charles Hayes
We Ate the Acid - Joe Roberts

$67.25

Psychedelics : Vintage Minis - Aldous Huxley
How Things Shape the Mind : A Theory of Material Engagement - Lambros Malafouris
Rave On : Global Adventures in Electronic Dance Music - Matthew Collin
Nicotine, Caffeine and Social Drinking : Behaviour and Brain Function - Monicque Lorist