John Locke and the problem of language in seventeenth-century philosophy
This thesis situates Lockeâs deep and abiding concerns about language in their intellectual context. By recovering everyday assumptions about language and the reactionary developments they inspired in the seventeenth-century, I identify the arguments that Locke is simply reiterating as well as those that he is rejecting, thereby illuminating the distinctive force of his polemic. Part I examines the fundamental linguistic beliefs of the age. These I find in the textbooks on the three arts of language - grammar, logic and rhetoric - which grounded every gentle education. The <i>trivium </i>transmits a view of words as arbitrary signs which univocally signify their meanings. Meanings are thoughts which in turn, if one is talking about the external world, hook on to things. Words, thoughts and things are presented as operating in a harmonious and one-to-one parallel. Indeed, the yoke is so tight that thoughts are often subsumed beneath things, mental mediation eclipsed by a seemingly perfect realism. However, whether through the gaze of an external critical eye or under pressure of internal dissent, various sections of this linguistic cloth threaten to unravel. I have identified three concerns which are occasioned
Dawson, H.
John Locke and the problem of language in seventeenth-century philosophy. This thesis situates Lockeâs deep and abiding concerns about language in their intellectual context. By recovering everyday assumptions about language and the reactionary developments they inspired in the seventeenth-century, I identify the arguments that Locke is simply reiterating as well as those that he is rejecting, thereby illuminating the distinctive force of his polemic. Part I examines the fundamental linguistic beliefs of the age. These I find in the textbooks on the three arts of language - grammar, logic and rhetoric - which grounded every gentle education. The <i>trivium </i>transmits a view of words as arbitrary signs which univocally signify their meanings. Meanings are thoughts which in turn, if one is talking about the external world, hook on to things. Words, thoughts and things are presented as operating in a harmonious and one-to-one parallel. Indeed, the yoke is so tight that thoughts are often subsumed beneath things, mental mediation eclipsed by a seemingly perfect realism. However, whether through the gaze of an external critical eye or under pressure of internal dissent, various sections of this linguistic cloth threaten to unravel. I have identified three concerns which are occasioned
john_locke problem language seventeenth_century philosophy situates locke deep concern language intellectual_context recover everyday assumption language reactionary development inspire seventeenth_century identify argument locke simply reiterate well reject thereby illuminate distinctive force polemic part_examine fundamental linguistic belief age textbook art language grammar logic rhetoric ground every education view word arbitrary sign signify meaning meanings thought turn talk external_world thing words thought thing present operate harmonious parallel indeed tight thought often subsume beneath thing mental mediation eclipse seemingly perfect realism however whether gaze external critical eye pressure internal dissent various section linguistic cloth threaten unravel identify concern occasion