Search results for " Philosophy of Language"

The Attributive/Referential Distinction, Pragmatics, Modularity of Mind and Modularization

2011

In this paper I deal with the attributive/referential distinction. After reviewing the literature on the issue, I adopt Jaszczolt's view based on default semantics. I relate her view to Sperber and Wilson's Principle of Relevance. I argue in favour of the modularity hypothesis in connection with pragmatic interpretations. I also discuss the issue of modularization a la Karmiloff-Smith in connection with default inferences and, in particular, referential readings of NPs. I reply to some considerations by Cummings and use data from referential/attributive uses of NPs to show that the modularity hypothesis is defensible.

Rhetoric as Philosophy of Language. An Aristotelian Perspective

2017

This paper sustains that rhetoric can be a fruitful way of practicing philosophy of language. The startingpoint is a suggestion drawn from the work of the Italian philosopher Roberto Esposito. According toEsposito, one of the main characteristics of the Italian thought is the focus on the necessary connectionbetween language and extra-linguistic world. I argue that rhetoric (intended in an Aristotelian sense), thanks to its extra-linguistic aim (persuasion), pays particular attention to this connection. This has important consequences: 1. considering speakers and listeners as essential components of speech and assigning a key position to the listener; 2. including the sphere of emotion in t…

Ontology Revisited

2013

Retorica Vivente. Un approccio retorico alla filosofia del linguaggio.

2015

Starting from some suggestions from Living Thought. The Origins and Actuality of Italian Philosophy (R. Esposito, 2010), this paper sustains that rhetoric can be a fruitful way of doing philosophy of language. According to Esposito, one of the main characteristics of the so called italian thought is the focus on the necessary connection between language and extra-linguistic world. In this article I argue that rhetoric, thanks to its extra-linguistic aim (persuasion), pays particular attention to this connection. This attitude involves many important consequences such as: 1. considering speakers and listeners as essential components of speech and not as its external users; 2. assigning a key…