Language and Logic: the "Logical Analysis" of Language

• Published in: Language and Reality pp. 268 - 329
• Main Author: Urban, Wilbur Marshall
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Routledge 1939
• Edition: 1
• Subjects: Reflective Thinking; Real Propositions; Intelligible Discourse; Modern Logic; Subject Predicate Logic; Substance Attribute Metaphysic; Apparent Propositions; Propositional Functions; Logical Meaning; Metalogical Problem; Logical Analysis; Extra-logical Factor; Symbolic Logic; Logical Nominalism; Existential Import; Real Inference; Actual Propositions; Pf; Subject Predicate Form; Relational Logic; Implicational Meaning; Linguistic Meaning; False Metaphysics; Genuine Propositions
• ISBN: 041529603X; 9781138871083; 9780415296038; 1138871087
• DOI: 10.4324/9781315830131-8

This chapter focuses on the relation of logic to language is but part of a larger problem of the relation of language to cognition. It presents the problems of language which are outside the province of logic and logical analysis. Knowledge by description involves language or at least symbols developed out of language; but knowledge by mere acquaintance. As Josiah Royce rightly says, mere perception says of knowledge, it is not in me. It is only in interpretation involving communication that knowledge has its being. The chapter also presents three main points for metalogical problems of language: language and presentational immediacy or knowledge by acquaintance; language and representation or knowledge by description; and language and dialectic or knowledge by interpretation. The metalogical problem of realism and nominalism is a problem of language and knowledge. By Neo-nominalism the extension of the nominalistic principle to the whole of language and to all its meanings can be understood.