
Foundations for Metasemantics
Oxford University Press
1st Edition
Published on 29. July 2025
Book
Hardback
208 pages
978-0-19-289515-8 (ISBN)
Description
Metasemantics studies the foundations of meaning, asking what makes it the case that certain words have the meanings that they do. But what makes metasemantic theories true? This question has been all but ignored in philosophy of language. In this book, Cohnitz and Haukioja address this issue and argue that just as in metasemantics, both internalist and externalist answers are available for this foundational question.
The authors introduce and defend meta-internalism, arguing that the foundations of reference and meaning are anchored in the individual dispositions and psychological states of language users, offering an alternative to meta-externalist views that would appeal to broader community-based or otherwise external factors. Meta-internalism is, moreover, compatible with semantic externalism as usually understood, and provides an explanation of why externalism is true. Through a critical examination of prominent theories and thought experiments, the book explores fundamental issues like reference failure, conceptual engineering, and the metaphysical implications of reference, as well as the methodology of theories of reference.
With its focus on the foundations of metasemantics, the book provides a fresh and empirically informed perspective on one of the core questions in the philosophy of language. Foundations for Metasemantics is essential reading for philosophers, scholars, and students seeking to understand the underlying principles that support our theories of meaning and reference.
The authors introduce and defend meta-internalism, arguing that the foundations of reference and meaning are anchored in the individual dispositions and psychological states of language users, offering an alternative to meta-externalist views that would appeal to broader community-based or otherwise external factors. Meta-internalism is, moreover, compatible with semantic externalism as usually understood, and provides an explanation of why externalism is true. Through a critical examination of prominent theories and thought experiments, the book explores fundamental issues like reference failure, conceptual engineering, and the metaphysical implications of reference, as well as the methodology of theories of reference.
With its focus on the foundations of metasemantics, the book provides a fresh and empirically informed perspective on one of the core questions in the philosophy of language. Foundations for Metasemantics is essential reading for philosophers, scholars, and students seeking to understand the underlying principles that support our theories of meaning and reference.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 239 mm
Width: 163 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
458 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-289515-8 (9780192895158)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Daniel Cohnitz holds the chair for theoretical philosophy at Utrecht University. Cohnitz studied philosophy, German literature and language, and history at the Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf. In 2005 he defended his dissertation on Thought Experiments in Philosophy (Gedankenexperimente in der Philosophie) at Duesseldorf. From 2006 to 2015 he was professor of theoretical philosophy at the University of Tartu in Estonia. Since January 2016 he is professor of theoretical philosophy in Utrecht. His research interests include metaphilosophy, epistemology, metaphysics, the philosophy of mind, language, mathematics, and logic, and related areas of philosophy and cognitive science.
Jussi Haukioja is professor of philosophy at NTNU Trondheim, Norway. Haukioja studied philosophy, linguistics, and mathematics at the University of Turku, Finland. In 2000 he defended his dissertation on Rule-Following, Response-Dependence, and Realism. From 2001 to 2010 he was employed in research positions funded by the Academy of Finland. He joined NTNU Trondheim in 2010, and has been full professor since 2011. His research interests include philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, and metaphilosophy.
Jussi Haukioja is professor of philosophy at NTNU Trondheim, Norway. Haukioja studied philosophy, linguistics, and mathematics at the University of Turku, Finland. In 2000 he defended his dissertation on Rule-Following, Response-Dependence, and Realism. From 2001 to 2010 he was employed in research positions funded by the Academy of Finland. He joined NTNU Trondheim in 2010, and has been full professor since 2011. His research interests include philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, and metaphilosophy.
Author
Professor of Theoretical PhilosophyProfessor of Theoretical Philosophy, Utrecht University
Professor of philosophyProfessor of philosophy, NTNU Trondheim, Norway
Content
1: Introduction
2: Meta-Externalism and Meta-Internalism
3: Examples of Meta-Internalism and Meta-Externalism
4: Against Meta-Externalism
5: Dispositionalist Meta-Internalism
6: Intuitions
7: Methodological Consequences for Philosophy of Language
8: Reference Failure, Reference Change, and Conceptual Engineering
9: Consequences for Metaphysics
10: Conclusion
2: Meta-Externalism and Meta-Internalism
3: Examples of Meta-Internalism and Meta-Externalism
4: Against Meta-Externalism
5: Dispositionalist Meta-Internalism
6: Intuitions
7: Methodological Consequences for Philosophy of Language
8: Reference Failure, Reference Change, and Conceptual Engineering
9: Consequences for Metaphysics
10: Conclusion