Ebook: The Philosophy of Michael Dummett

The present collection of papers derives from a philosophy conference organised in the Sicilian town of M ussomeli in September 1991. The con­ ference aimed at providing an analysis of certain aspects of the thought of Michael Dummett, whose contributions have been very influential in several aspects of the philosophical debate continuing within the analyt­ ical tradition. Logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the interpretation of Frege's philosophy, and metaphysics are only some of the areas within which Dummett's ideas have been fruitful over the years. The papers contained in this book, and Dummett's replies, will, it is hoped, not merely offer a partial reconstruction of a philosopher's life­ work, but provide an exciting and challenging vantage point from which to look at some of the main problems of contemporary philosophy. The First International Philosophy Conference of M ussomeli - this is what the conference was called - was an extraordinary event in many ways. The quality of the papers presented, the international reputa­ tion of many of the participants, the venue itself, together with the unavoidable, and sometimes quite funny, organisational hiccups, made that meeting memorable. Perhaps principally memorable was the warmth and sympathy of the people of Mussomeli who strongly supported and encouraged this initia­ tive. A special mention is also due to the City Council Administrators, who spared no effort to make the Conference a success.

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This book contains seminal discussions of central issues in the philosophy of language, mathematics, mind, religion and time.
Is common language conceptually prior to idiolectics? What is a theory of meaning? Does constructivism provide a satisfactory account of mathematics? What are indefinitely extensible concepts? Can we change the past? These are only some of the very important questions addressed here.
Both the papers written by the contributors and Dummett's replies provide a great wealth of stimulating ideas for those who currently do research in the respective areas touched upon without making the reading exceedingly tedious. This feature, common to most of the papers in this book, makes it possible to use the material presented in undergraduate courses at university level.

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This book contains seminal discussions of central issues in the philosophy of language, mathematics, mind, religion and time.
Is common language conceptually prior to idiolectics? What is a theory of meaning? Does constructivism provide a satisfactory account of mathematics? What are indefinitely extensible concepts? Can we change the past? These are only some of the very important questions addressed here.
Both the papers written by the contributors and Dummett's replies provide a great wealth of stimulating ideas for those who currently do research in the respective areas touched upon without making the reading exceedingly tedious. This feature, common to most of the papers in this book, makes it possible to use the material presented in undergraduate courses at university level.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xi
Front Matter....Pages xiii-xiii
The Social Aspect of Language....Pages 1-16
Singular Terms....Pages 17-44
Philosophical Theorizing and Particularism: Michael Dummett on Wittgenstein’s Later Philosophy of Language....Pages 45-57
Convention and Assertion....Pages 59-77
Meaning Theory and Anti-Realism....Pages 79-89
Front Matter....Pages 91-91
Anti-Realism and the Philosophy of Mathematics....Pages 93-111
Dummett and Wittgenstein’s Philosophy of Mathematics....Pages 113-136
Vestiges of Realism....Pages 137-165
About “The Philosophical Significance of G?del’s Theorem”: Some Issues....Pages 167-202
Front Matter....Pages 203-203
Dummett, Realism and Other Minds....Pages 205-228
Truth, Time and Deity....Pages 229-239
Leaving the Past Where it Belongs....Pages 241-254
Front Matter....Pages 255-255
Reply to Davidson....Pages 257-267
Reply to Hale....Pages 268-272
Reply to Pears....Pages 273-281
Reply to Picardi....Pages 282-291
Reply to Prawitz....Pages 292-298
Reply to Oliveri....Pages 299-307
Reply to Penco....Pages 308-317
Reply to Sundholm....Pages 318-328
Front Matter....Pages 255-255
Reply to Wright....Pages 329-338
Reply to Bilgrami....Pages 339-349
Reply to McGuinness....Pages 350-361
Reply to Schulte....Pages 362-369
Back Matter....Pages 371-394

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This book contains seminal discussions of central issues in the philosophy of language, mathematics, mind, religion and time.
Is common language conceptually prior to idiolectics? What is a theory of meaning? Does constructivism provide a satisfactory account of mathematics? What are indefinitely extensible concepts? Can we change the past? These are only some of the very important questions addressed here.
Both the papers written by the contributors and Dummett's replies provide a great wealth of stimulating ideas for those who currently do research in the respective areas touched upon without making the reading exceedingly tedious. This feature, common to most of the papers in this book, makes it possible to use the material presented in undergraduate courses at university level.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xi
Front Matter....Pages xiii-xiii
The Social Aspect of Language....Pages 1-16
Singular Terms....Pages 17-44
Philosophical Theorizing and Particularism: Michael Dummett on Wittgenstein’s Later Philosophy of Language....Pages 45-57
Convention and Assertion....Pages 59-77
Meaning Theory and Anti-Realism....Pages 79-89
Front Matter....Pages 91-91
Anti-Realism and the Philosophy of Mathematics....Pages 93-111
Dummett and Wittgenstein’s Philosophy of Mathematics....Pages 113-136
Vestiges of Realism....Pages 137-165
About “The Philosophical Significance of G?del’s Theorem”: Some Issues....Pages 167-202
Front Matter....Pages 203-203
Dummett, Realism and Other Minds....Pages 205-228
Truth, Time and Deity....Pages 229-239
Leaving the Past Where it Belongs....Pages 241-254
Front Matter....Pages 255-255
Reply to Davidson....Pages 257-267
Reply to Hale....Pages 268-272
Reply to Pears....Pages 273-281
Reply to Picardi....Pages 282-291
Reply to Prawitz....Pages 292-298
Reply to Oliveri....Pages 299-307
Reply to Penco....Pages 308-317
Reply to Sundholm....Pages 318-328
Front Matter....Pages 255-255
Reply to Wright....Pages 329-338
Reply to Bilgrami....Pages 339-349
Reply to McGuinness....Pages 350-361
Reply to Schulte....Pages 362-369
Back Matter....Pages 371-394
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