Pursuit of truth. (English) Zbl 0733.03002

Quine, W. V.

Cambridge etc.: Harvard University Press. xii, 113 p. $ 20.95 (1990).

This booklet is a typical “late work” of a famous philosopher who has written - over almost 5 decades - many important books on logic, philosophy of language, and epistemology. On no more than 100 pages - but in no less than 43 paragraphs - Quine summarizes his updated views on cognitive meaning, objective reference, and the grounds of knowledge. The material arranged under the headings “Evidence”, “Reference”, “Meaning”, “Intension”, and “Truth” is not really new but purports to clarify Quine’s views as put forward in his earlier books, especially in From a logical point of view (1953; Zbl 0050.00501), Word and object (1960; Zbl 0093.00915), Roots of reference (1974), and Theories and things (1981).

Reviewer: W.Lenzen (Osnabrück)

MSC:

03A05	Philosophical and critical aspects of logic and foundations
03-02	Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to mathematical logic and foundations

Keywords:

cognitive meaning; objective reference; knowledge

Citations:

Zbl 0050.00501; Zbl 0093.00915