The Roots of Reference
Encyclopedia
The Roots of Reference is a 1974 book by philosopher Willard Van Orman Quine
. In it, Quine expands on earlier concepts about the inscrutability of reference
and examines problems with traditional empiricism
, arguing for a naturalized epistemology
based on holism
.
about language acquisition
.Quine, W.V. (1973). The Roots of Reference. The Paul Carus Lectures. Open Court, ISBN 087548123X The book is divided into three sections, one for each of the three Paul Carus Lectures he originally gave in 1971 at the American Philosophical Association
conference. These three lectures were then revised and expanded for the book, with an introduction by Nelson Goodman
.
The first section is "Perceiving and learning," and it summarizes the psychology
of perception
and learning
. The second is "Breaking into language," and it concerns reification
, which moves from rudimentary to full-fledged through the use of the relative clause
with its relative pronoun
and subsidiary pronouns. These pronouns then recur as the bound variables of quantifications. The third section, "Referring to objects," examines how properties, classes, number
s He concludes that it is a genetic fallacy
to claim that truth
cannot emerge from fallacious proofs.
Quine is interested in explaining the "psychogenesis
of reference," constructing how sensory perception moves from the ability to describe concrete objects
to abstract objects through a series of increasingly complex ways of referring to things. Following sensory reception of input from the physical world, someone acquiring language must learn to form "observation sentences, talk of bodies, compound sentences, quantifiers, number
s until the imagined person has a scheme not much less sophisticated than our own." According to author Gary Kemp, Quine "refines the claims and tasks of epistemology so as to make good on the basic claim that all knowledge derives from experience." Because it was created for the Carus Lectures
, Quine states his ontological position in a "delightfully relaxed, good-humored style."
Willard Van Orman Quine
Willard Van Orman Quine was an American philosopher and logician in the analytic tradition...
. In it, Quine expands on earlier concepts about the inscrutability of reference
Inscrutability of reference
The inscrutability or indeterminacy of reference is a thesis propounded by 20th century analytic philosopher Willard Van Orman Quine in his book Word and Object...
and examines problems with traditional empiricism
Empiricism
Empiricism is a theory of knowledge that asserts that knowledge comes only or primarily via sensory experience. One of several views of epistemology, the study of human knowledge, along with rationalism, idealism and historicism, empiricism emphasizes the role of experience and evidence,...
, arguing for a naturalized epistemology
Naturalized epistemology
Naturalized epistemology is a collection of philosophic views concerned with the theory of knowledge that emphasize the role of natural scientific methods. This shared emphasis on scientific methods of studying knowledge shifts focus to the empirical processes of knowledge acquisition and away from...
based on holism
Holism
Holism is the idea that all the properties of a given system cannot be determined or explained by its component parts alone...
.
Background and content
Quine's draft was initially developed in 1970 as an expansion of ideas presented in Word and ObjectWord and Object
Word and Object is a 1960 book of epistemology by Willard Van Orman Quine. In it, Quine develops his thesis of the Indeterminacy of translation....
about language acquisition
Language acquisition
Language acquisition is the process by which humans acquire the capacity to perceive, produce and use words to understand and communicate. This capacity involves the picking up of diverse capacities including syntax, phonetics, and an extensive vocabulary. This language might be vocal as with...
.Quine, W.V. (1973). The Roots of Reference. The Paul Carus Lectures. Open Court, ISBN 087548123X The book is divided into three sections, one for each of the three Paul Carus Lectures he originally gave in 1971 at the American Philosophical Association
American Philosophical Association
The American Philosophical Association is the main professional organization for philosophers in the United States. Founded in 1900, its mission is to promote the exchange of ideas among philosophers, to encourage creative and scholarly activity in philosophy, to facilitate the professional work...
conference. These three lectures were then revised and expanded for the book, with an introduction by Nelson Goodman
Nelson Goodman
Henry Nelson Goodman was an American philosopher, known for his work on counterfactuals, mereology, the problem of induction, irrealism and aesthetics.-Career:...
.
The first section is "Perceiving and learning," and it summarizes the psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
of perception
Perception
Perception is the process of attaining awareness or understanding of the environment by organizing and interpreting sensory information. All perception involves signals in the nervous system, which in turn result from physical stimulation of the sense organs...
and learning
Learning
Learning is acquiring new or modifying existing knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals and some machines. Progress over time tends to follow learning curves.Human learning...
. The second is "Breaking into language," and it concerns reification
Reification
Reification generally refers to bringing into being or turning concrete.Specifically, reification may refer to:*Reification , making a data model for a previously abstract concept...
, which moves from rudimentary to full-fledged through the use of the relative clause
Relative clause
A relative clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun phrase, most commonly a noun. For example, the phrase "the man who wasn't there" contains the noun man, which is modified by the relative clause who wasn't there...
with its relative pronoun
Relative pronoun
A relative pronoun is a pronoun that marks a relative clause within a larger sentence. It is called a relative pronoun because it relates the relative clause to the noun that it modifies. In English, the relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, whosever, whosesoever, which, and, in some...
and subsidiary pronouns. These pronouns then recur as the bound variables of quantifications. The third section, "Referring to objects," examines how properties, classes, number
Number
A number is a mathematical object used to count and measure. In mathematics, the definition of number has been extended over the years to include such numbers as zero, negative numbers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, and complex numbers....
s He concludes that it is a genetic fallacy
Genetic fallacy
The genetic fallacy is a fallacy of irrelevance where a conclusion is suggested based solely on something or someone's origin rather than its current meaning or context. This overlooks any difference to be found in the present situation, typically transferring the positive or negative esteem from...
to claim that truth
Truth
Truth has a variety of meanings, such as the state of being in accord with fact or reality. It can also mean having fidelity to an original or to a standard or ideal. In a common usage, it also means constancy or sincerity in action or character...
cannot emerge from fallacious proofs.
Quine is interested in explaining the "psychogenesis
Psychogenesis
Psychogenesis is a term primarily used in psychology referring to the origin and development of psychological processes, personality, or behavior or the development of a physical disorder or illness resulting from psychological, rather than physiological, factors.-See also:*Carl Jung*Reality...
of reference," constructing how sensory perception moves from the ability to describe concrete objects
Physical body
In physics, a physical body or physical object is a collection of masses, taken to be one...
to abstract objects through a series of increasingly complex ways of referring to things. Following sensory reception of input from the physical world, someone acquiring language must learn to form "observation sentences, talk of bodies, compound sentences, quantifiers, number
Number
A number is a mathematical object used to count and measure. In mathematics, the definition of number has been extended over the years to include such numbers as zero, negative numbers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, and complex numbers....
s until the imagined person has a scheme not much less sophisticated than our own." According to author Gary Kemp, Quine "refines the claims and tasks of epistemology so as to make good on the basic claim that all knowledge derives from experience." Because it was created for the Carus Lectures
Carus Lectures
The Carus Lectures are a prestigious series of three lectures presented over three consecutive days in plenary sessions at a divisional meeting of the American Philosophical Association. The series was founded in 1925 with John Dewey as the inaugural presenter. The series was scheduled irregularly...
, Quine states his ontological position in a "delightfully relaxed, good-humored style."
External links
- The Roots of Reference via Publisher's website