Theories of Meaning

Abstract

In this chapter we will turn our attention to this work’s first main theme, the question of the meaning of linguistic expressions. This question directs itself in the first instance to all of the ways in which language is used, to all types of discourse, such as assertions, questions, commands, etc. The principal interest of the philosophy of language, particularly under its aspect of scientific propaedeutics, is concentrated, however, as has already been said in 1.2, on declarative discourse as the most important way in which language is used in science. In this sense, we intend to concentrate our attention in what follows preeminently on the investigation of problems of meaning connected with descriptive discourse.