Word and Object (Studies in Communication)

Language consists of dispositions, socially instilled, to respond observably to

socially observable stimuli. Such is the point of view from which a noted philosopher and logician

examines the notion of meaning and the linguistic mechanisms of objective reference. In the course

of the discussion, Professor Quine pinpoints the difficulties involved in translation, brings to

light the anomalies and conflicts implicit in our language's referential apparatus, clarifies

semantic problems connected with the imputation of existence, and marshals reasons for admitting or

repudiating each of various categories of supposed objects. He argues that the notion of a

language-transcendent "sentence-meaning" must on the whole be rejected; meaningful studies in the

semantics of reference can only be directed toward substantially the same language in which they are

conducted.