Abstract
The aim of this paper is to compare two approaches to semantics, namely the standard Tarskian theory and Wittgenstein’s picture theory of meaning. I will compare them with respect to an unusual subject matter, namely to geometrical pictures. The choice of geometry rather than arithmetic or set theory as the basis, on which this comparison will be made has two reasons. One reason is related to Wittgenstein’s picture theory of meaning. This theory was developed more or less as a metaphor, comparing the language to a picture. Nevertheless, if we take pictures themselves in the role of the language to which we apply Wittgenstein’s picture theory of meaning, this theory stops being a metaphor and starts to work in a technical way. I believe that in this way we can create a new approach to semantics in geometry. The other reason for taking geometry as the basis for our investigation is that the Tarskian approach to semantics does not work in geometry as we would wish.
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References
Ladislav Kvasz, “History of geometry and the development of the form of its language”, accepted for publication in: Synthese.
Alfred Tarski, “What is elementary geometry?”, in: Leon Henkin/Patrick Suppes I Alfred Tarski, (Eds.), The axiomatic method. Amsterdam: North-Holland 1959, pp. 16–29.
Alfred Tarski/L.W. Szczerba, “Metamathematical properties of some affine geometries”, in: Yehoshua Bar-Hillel (Ed.), Logic, Methodology, and Philosophy of Science. Amsterdam: North-Holland 1965, pp. 166–178.
Ludwig Wittgenstein, “Tractatus logico-philosophicus. Logisch-Philosophische Abhandlung. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp 1964.
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© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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Kvasz, L. (1999). Tarski and Wittgenstein on Semantics of Geometrical Figures. In: Woleński, J., Köhler, E. (eds) Alfred Tarski and the Vienna Circle. Vienna Circle Institute Yearbook [1998], vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0689-6_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0689-6_15
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