Talking Wolves: Thomas Hobbes on the Language of Politics and the Politics of Language (Synthese Library, 262)

__Talking Wolves__ advances an analysis of Hobbes which takes language seriously (as seriously as Hobbes took it). It presents a reading of Hobbes's view of society at large, and political society in particular, through a comprehensive discussion based on, and intimately linked to, his philosophy of language. This philosophy, in turn, is seen in a new light as being a pragmatic theory of language in use, language in action. Talking Wolves makes the point of relating Hobbes's views on language to his views on politics. Latter-day discussions of Thomas Hobbes's philosophy of language lag far behind those of his political and moral philosophy; this book supports the claim that our understanding of both stands to profit from such an enterprise. A new reading of Hobbes on language is presented - namely, that Hobbes's theories of language are 'pragmatic' in the modern sense of the word - language in use, language in action. Beyond the linguistic focus on Hobbes's works, this perspective is relevant and important for a new and richer understanding of his political and moral studies. Various moral, social and political issues arise in conjunction with this novel view of language: rhetoric, religious interpretation, and the 'science' of politics are working examples. Students and scholars of both political philosophy and the philosophy of language will find this study of interest. Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction....Pages 1-14 Front Matter....Pages 15-19 Human Voices : Semantics and Beyond....Pages 20-36 Use and Effect : Speech as Use....Pages 37-56 Speech Useful : A Theory of Language Use....Pages 57-69 Front Matter....Pages 70-76 Conversation of Mankind : The Meaning of Moral Concepts....Pages 77-91 Everyman’s Will : Speech Acts....Pages 92-111 A Common Language : Natural, Social and Linguistic....Pages 112-135 Front Matter....Pages 136-137 Policy Ecclesiasticall : Religious Interpretation....Pages 138-153 Eloquence is Power : The Office of Rhetoric....Pages 154-177 Conclusion....Pages 178-192 Back Matter....Pages 193-223

Talking Wolves advances an analysis of Hobbes which takes language seriously (as seriously as Hobbes took it). It presents a reading of Hobbes's view of society at large, and political society in particular, through a comprehensive discussion based on, and intimately linked to, his philosophy of language. This philosophy, in turn, is seen in a new light as being a pragmatic theory of language in use, language in action.

Anat Biletzki. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.