The Semantics of ScienceThe Semantics of Science proposes a radical new rethinking of science and scientific discourse. Roy Harris argues that supercategories such as science, art, religion and history are themselves verbal constructs, and thus language-dependent. Because each supercategory is constructed differently, it is necessary to pay attention to the linguistic process by which a discourse such as 'science' has developed. Through this view it is possible to observe that the function of the supercategory is to integrate what would otherwise be separate activities and enquiries, and the result of this integration is therefore a re-drawing of the intellectual world that society as a whole adopts. In the course of his study of The Semantics of Science Roy Harris looks at the history and development of scientific discourse to show through language that what is meant by science has changed since it was first theorised by the Greeks. Harris traces the semantic development of 'science' through the years of the Royal Society to the present day, moving on to an analysis of rhetoric, mathematics, common sense and finally the supercategory of semantics. This lucidly written yet radical new theory on the language of science will be fascinating reading for academics and students researching semantics, semiotics or applied linguistics. |
Contents
Introduction | 15 |
Semantics and the Royal Society | 47 |
Science in the kitchen | 64 |
The rhetoric of linguistic science | 83 |
Mathematics and the language of science | 106 |
Science and common sense | 129 |
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Common terms and phrases
according already Aristotelian Aristotle Aristotle's assumptions basis Betty Bloomfield Bohr Boyle's law Bridgman called Carnap claim classical physics communication concept copper correspondence counting defined Demiurge Democritus described discourse distinction Einstein everyday example experience explain fact fixed code geography Greek Harré Heisenberg 1989 Holt-Jensen human idea inquiry integration integrationist kind knowledge Kuhn language of science language user linguistic logic material objects mathematics means measurement Medawar metaphysical modern Müller names Nature Neogrammarian notion number-words observation ordinary language paradigm particular philosophy of language philosophy of science physics possible pre-scientific principles problem proposed psychocentric question reference relativity of simultaneity reocentric reocentric semantics rhetoric rhetoric of science Saussure Saussure's scientific method scientists seems semantics of science sense signs simultaneity space spagyrists Sprat statement supercategory symbols syntax Thales theorist theory things tion trajectory truth understand verbal Vienna Circle Wilkins words