Language and Reality from a Naturalistic Perspective

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

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2. Introduction – Michael Devitt at Eighty

   • Andrea Bianchi

   Pages 1-3

3. Philosophy of Linguistics

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 5-5

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   2. Invariance as the Mark of the Psychological Reality of Language

      • John Collins

      Pages 7-44

   3. Priorities and Diversities in Language and Thought

      • Elisabeth Camp

      Pages 45-66

4. Theory of Reference

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 67-67

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   2. Theories of Reference: What Was the Question?

      • Panu Raatikainen

      Pages 69-103

   3. Multiple Grounding

      • François Recanati

      Pages 105-119

   4. Reference and Causal Chains

      • Andrea Bianchi

      Pages 121-136

   5. The Qua-Problem for Names (Dismissed)

      • Marga Reimer

      Pages 137-154

   6. Language from a Naturalistic Perspective

      • Frank Jackson

      Pages 155-171

   7. Michael Devitt, Cultural Evolution and the Division of Linguistic Labour

      • Kim Sterelny

      Pages 173-189

5. Theory of Meaning

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 191-191

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   2. Still for Direct Reference

      • David Braun

      Pages 193-235

   3. Naming and Non-necessity

      • Nathan Salmon

      Pages 237-248

   4. Against Rigidity for General Terms

      • Stephen P. Schwartz

      Pages 249-266

   5. Devitt and the Case for Narrow Meaning

      • William G. Lycan

      Pages 267-284

   6. Languages and Idiolects

      • Paul Horwich

      Pages 285-296

6. Methodology

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 297-297

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   2. Explanation First! The Priority of Scientific Over “Commonsense” Metaphysics

      • Georges Rey

      Pages 299-327

This book celebrates the many important contributions to philosophy by one of the leading philosophers in the analytic field, Michael Devitt.

It collects seventeen original essays by renowned philosophers from all over the world. They all develop themes from Devitt’s work, thus discussing many fundamental issues in philosophy of linguistics, theory of reference, theory of meaning, methodology, and metaphysics.

In a long final chapter, Devitt himself replies to the contributors. In so doing, he further elaborates his views on various of these issues, for example defending his claim (in opposition to Chomskyan orthodoxy) that languages are external rather than internal; his well-known causal theory of reference; his “shocking” idea that meanings can be causal, non-descriptive, modes of presentation; his methodological naturalism; his commitment to scientific realism; and his version of biological essentialism.

The volume will appeal to all scholars and students interested in contemporary theoretical analytic philosophy, and will be a must-read for any serious researcher in philosophy of language. It provides a deep insight into the work of one of the most important living philosophers, and will help readers to better understand language and reality from a naturalistic perspective.

• Apriority
• Biological Essentialism
• Causal Theory of Reference
• Descriptivism
• Devitt on Reference
• Direct Reference
• General Terms
• Meanings
• Michael Devitt
• Narrow Content
• Philosophical Naturalism
• Proper Names
• Qua Problem
• Reference
• Referential Chains
• Realism and Truth
• Rigidity
• Scientific Realism
• Theories of Reference
• Thought and Language

• Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

  Andrea Bianchi

Andrea Bianchi is an associate professor at the University of Parma. He has published a number of papers on various topics in philosophy of language and philosophy of mind, and is especially interested in foundational issues concerning language. His current research focuses on the relationships between language and thought and the nature of the primal semantic relation, reference. Among other things, he has edited On Reference (Oxford University Press 2015).

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