Article: What is the meaning of words?: Philosophy Forums

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Article: What is the meaning of words?

DeReel
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Posted 03/16/09 - 05:30 AM:	#21
SirU2 wrote: As for "meanING as the result of a process", I presume you are talking about mental processes. Is there any other way for meanings to be assigned to words? -ING : expresses the process itself. Mental I guess. You know better.

reincarnated
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Posted 03/16/09 - 06:29 AM:	#22
Banno wrote: Make up your mind - is the meaning of a word its use in a language, or is it the idea it communicates? I never changed my mind, so I have no idea what you are on about. A word is a tool, used to communicate ideas. Words take their meaning from the way they are used. If the idea that is intended to be communicated is consistent with the way the word is used then everyone is happy. We introduce problems when we try to use words to convey ideas which are inconsistent with the way the words are actually used. What's wrong with that?
crumpled bits of paper, filled with imperfect thoughts... we all talk a different language, talking in defence... and if you don't give up, and don't give in, you may just be ok... (Mike & The Mechanics, "The Living Years")

Trompe-la-Mort
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Posted 03/17/09 - 10:00 AM:	#23
I think this article validates one of the Postmodern arguments (by Foucault? Baudrillard? Derrida? can't memeber) about a word/sign containing meaning by what it doesn't say/signify. We have multiple images of 'airplane' becasue of what it isn't saying: dog, door, table, sunshine etc.

Banno
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Posted 03/17/09 - 12:05 PM:	#24
reincarnated wrote: I never changed my mind, so I have no idea what you are on about. A word is a tool, used to communicate ideas. Words take their meaning from the way they are used. If the idea that is intended to be communicated is consistent with the way the word is used then everyone is happy. We introduce problems when we try to use words to convey ideas which are inconsistent with the way the words are actually used. What's wrong with that? Nothing, so far as it goes. a little bit of this, a little bit of that, mix and match; most eclectic.
Davidson: We make maximum sense of the words and thoughts of others when we interpret in a way that optimizes agreement. Russel Morris: There's a meaning there, but the meaning there doesn't really mean a thing... Ned: Such is life

reincarnated
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Posted 03/18/09 - 03:54 AM:	#25
Banno wrote: Nothing, so far as it goes. a little bit of this, a little bit of that, mix and match; most eclectic. rofl - it seems you are determined to pick an argument here, but there is nowhere for you to get started?
crumpled bits of paper, filled with imperfect thoughts... we all talk a different language, talking in defence... and if you don't give up, and don't give in, you may just be ok... (Mike & The Mechanics, "The Living Years")

Banno
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Posted 03/18/09 - 12:20 PM:	#26
Yes, it is difficult to land a blow on someone as quick on their feet as you. Congratulations.
Davidson: We make maximum sense of the words and thoughts of others when we interpret in a way that optimizes agreement. Russel Morris: There's a meaning there, but the meaning there doesn't really mean a thing... Ned: Such is life

jacob7
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Posted 04/03/09 - 11:33 AM:	#27
Sorry for not replying earlier. I posted this long ago and thought that I had activated the email me when a reply is posted. Anyway. I have read the replies but still I am not satisfied. I think that the main thing I want to understand is the location of the meaning of words. Words have a meaning because we give it to them. Ok Words are concepts then. Still: Where is the location of the meaning of the word ‘airplane’? Any other philosophers who have asked this question? I want to understand this. The article is from Suhotra Swami's book Substance and Shadow. It is quite dense. http://www.suhotraswami.net/library/Substance_and_Shadow.pdf There are some sanskrit words he is using so they didn't make it when I copy pasted them. For those who asked. Pratyaksa means sense perception. Anumana-mental concoction Sabda-hmmm, I think it means sound or some kind of mantra. So my question still remains. Where is the location of the meaning of words? Why is this so mystical or magical? Thanks. Edited by jacob7 on 04/03/09 - 12:04 PM

aga
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Posted 04/03/09 - 05:29 PM:	#28
Subject: Article: What is the meaning of words? Is what the meaning of words is other words, which is why we say 'in other words.'? Is where the meaning of words is found in other words? Is there any word that does not mean other words? Is there any word whose meaning is not found in other words? Does the word 'word' mean other words? Does the word 'meaning' mean other words? Does the magic in words come from the fact that all words have i-mag-es?

Schlitz
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Posted 04/04/09 - 02:09 PM:	#29
Finding a true theory of meaning is, I think, the ultimate goal of the phil. of language. However, I only feel qualified to recommend reading on the subject: Articles in Putnam's _Mind, Language, and Reality, Vol. 2_: Hilary Putnam, "The Meaning of 'Meaning'" Hilary Putnam, "How Not to Talk About Meaning" Hilary Putnam, "Explanation and Reference" Articles in Dummett's _Truth and Other Enigmas_ Michael Dummett, "What is a Theory of Meaning? (II)" Michael Dummett, "Platonism" Other important stuff: Moritz Schlick, "Positivism and Realism" Rudolph Carnap, "Testability and Meaning" Saul Kripke, "Naming and Necessity"

basdirks
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Posted 05/14/09 - 12:04 AM:	#30
jacob7 wrote: These puzzling questions just lead us to the conclusion that there is an occult power behind words that our perceptions and thoughts fail to grasp. That made my day.

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