Word and Plan

Reviews / Votes

This is an excellent book that makes an important and original contribution. Many observers outside of philosophy are puzzled by the fact that problems about vagueness have been such a preoccupation in the philosophy of language, but Word and Plan explains precisely why these issues are so important. MacFarlane's arguments, both constructive and critical, are incisive and convincing. -- Robert Stalnaker, Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology MacFarlane provides a compelling and original account of communication with vague expressions while also offering a richly insightful picture of many of the central issues in semantics and pragmatics. -- Daniel Rothschild, professor of philosophy of language, University College London In Word and Plan, John MacFarlane asks what we do when we communicate with semantically indeterminate language and what semantic indeterminacy consists in, given what we do with it. MacFarlane's masterful interweaving of theoretical concepts and analytical tools from formal semantics, pragmatics, and philosophy of language makes this essential reading for anyone working on meaning and communication and a case study in interdisciplinary scholarship at its best. Word and Plan will challenge and inspire research on these topics for years to come. -- Chris Kennedy, William H. Colvin Professor and chair of the Department of Linguistics, University of Chicago