
Assertion and Conditionals
Anthony Appiah(Author)
Cambridge University Press
Published on 28. August 2008
Book
Paperback/Softback
280 pages
978-0-521-07129-1 (ISBN)
Description
This book develops in detail the simple idea that assertion is the expression of belief. In it the author puts forward a version of 'probabilistic semantics' which acknowledges that we are not perfectly rational, and which offers a significant advance in generality on theories of meaning couched in terms of truth conditions. It promises to challenge a number of entrenched and widespread views about the relations of language and mind. Part I presents a functionalist account of belief, worked through a modified form of decision theory. In Part II the author generates a theory of meaning in terms of 'assertibility conditions', whereby to know the meaning of an assertion is to know the belief it expresses.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
399 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-07129-1 (9780521071291)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Anthony Appiah
Assertion and Conditionals
Book
09/1985
Cambridge University Press
€61.90
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Previous edition

Anthony Appiah
Assertion and Conditionals
Book
09/1985
Cambridge University Press
€61.90
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Content
1. Cartesianism, behaviourism and the philosophical context; Part I. Belief: 2. A theory of the mind; 3. Belief and decision; 4. Computation; 5. Truth conditions; Part II. Meaning: 6. Realism and truth-theory; 7. Assertion; Part III. Conditionals: 8. Indicative conditionals; 9. Truth and triviality; 10. Logic without truth; 11. Generalising the probabilistic semantics of conditionals.