
The Semantics of Science
Roy Harris(Author)
Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.
Published on 15. April 2005
Book
Hardback
240 pages
978-0-8264-8450-5 (ISBN)
Description
A radical new theory of the language of science by eminent linguist Roy Harris. In The Semantics of Science Roy Harris challenges a number of long-accepted assumptions about science and scientific discourse. According to Harris, science - like art, religion and history - is one of the supercategories adopted by modern societies for explaining and justifying certain types of human activity. Harris argues that these supercategories are themselves verbal constructs, and thus language-dependent. Each supercategory has its own semantics. The function of the supercategory is to integrate what would otherwise be unconnected forms of inquiry, and the result of such integrations is to draw a certain map of our intellectual world. Among the questions tackled are: Is mathematics a language? Does the language of science go beyond the bounds of common sense? And, if so, on what basis? In a wide-ranging historical survey, Harris rejects the view that the Greeks and medieval thinkers had any concept of scientific inquiry that corresponds to our own.
He pays close attention to the early work of the Royal Society and to the twentieth-century semantic crisis caused by attempting to integrate Einsteinian relativity and quantum mechanics. This lucidly written book will be of interest to all those engaged in linguistics, semiotics, philosophy of science and cultural studies.
He pays close attention to the early work of the Royal Society and to the twentieth-century semantic crisis caused by attempting to integrate Einsteinian relativity and quantum mechanics. This lucidly written book will be of interest to all those engaged in linguistics, semiotics, philosophy of science and cultural studies.
Reviews / Votes
'...RH offers the eye-opener of a more humble integrationist view, that has science as one form of communication among others...RH's arguments stand out all the more cogently through his choice of largely accessible language, which is supported by an impeccably proofread text. His new book combines intense scholarship with keen insight, often sarcastic, into thoroughly entertaining read.' -- Madalena Cruz-Ferreira * Linguist List, The * "RH's arguments stand out all the more cogently through his choice of largely accessible language, which is supported by an impeccably proofread text. His new Book combines intense scholarship with keen insight, often sarcastic, into a thoroughly entertaining read." * Linguist List, The *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
523 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8264-8450-5 (9780826484505)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Roy Harris
The Semantics of Science
E-Book
04/2005
1st Edition
Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.
€222.99
Available for download
Person
Roy Harris is Emeritus Professor of General Linguistics at the University of Oxford, UK.
Content
Preface
Introduction
1. Language and the Aristotelian scientist
2. Before and after Aristotle
3. Semantics and the Royal Society
4. Science in the kitchen
5. The rhetoric of linguistic science
6. Mathematics and the language of science
7. Science and common sense
8. Supercategory semantics
References
Index
Introduction
1. Language and the Aristotelian scientist
2. Before and after Aristotle
3. Semantics and the Royal Society
4. Science in the kitchen
5. The rhetoric of linguistic science
6. Mathematics and the language of science
7. Science and common sense
8. Supercategory semantics
References
Index