Aristotle’s Theory of Language and Meaning

This is a book about Aristotle’s philosophy of language, interpreted in a framework that provides a comprehensive interpretation of Aristotle’s metaphysics, philosophy of mind, epistemology and science. The aims of the book are to explicate the description of meaning contained in De Interpretatione and to show the relevance of that theory of meaning to much of the rest of Arisotle’s philosophy. In the process Deborah Modrak reveals how that theory of meaning has been much maligned.

• Major assesment of Aristotle’s theory of reference and meaning that has relevance to the rest of Aristotle’s philosophy • Another strong addition to the Cambridge Aristotle list

Part I. Language and Knowledge: 1. Meaning; 2. Truth and necessary truth; 3. Language of science; 4. Three types of science; Part II. Definition and Essence: 5. Definition and ontology; 6. Logos as substance; Part III. Cognition and Meaning: 7. Phantasia and representation; 8. Abstract thought and meaning; 9. Conclusions.