Logic and the Ontology of Language
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Urszula Wybraniec-Skardowska
Abstract
The main goal of this paper is to outline a general formal-logical theory of language construed as a particular ontological being. The theory itself will be referred to as an ontology of language, because it is motivated by the fact that language plays a special role: it reflects ontology, and ontology reflects the world. Linguistic expressions will be regarded as having a dual ontological status: they are to be understood as either concreta - i.e. tokens, in the sense of material, physical objects - or types, in the sense of classes of tokens - i.e. abstract objects. Such a duality will then be taken into account in the logical theory of syntax, semantics and pragmatics presented here. We point to the possibility of constructing the latter on two different levels, one stemming from concreta, construed as linguistic tokens of expressions, the other from their classes - namely types, conceived as abstract, ideal beings. The aim of this work is not only to outline such a theory with respect to the dual ontological nature of the expressions of language in terms that take into account a functional approach to language itself, but also to show that the logic based on it is ontologically neutral in the sense that it is abstracted from the level at which certain existential assumptions relating to the ontological nature of these linguistic expressions and their extra-linguistic ontological counterparts (objects) would have to be embraced.
Abstract
The main goal of this paper is to outline a general formal-logical theory of language construed as a particular ontological being. The theory itself will be referred to as an ontology of language, because it is motivated by the fact that language plays a special role: it reflects ontology, and ontology reflects the world. Linguistic expressions will be regarded as having a dual ontological status: they are to be understood as either concreta - i.e. tokens, in the sense of material, physical objects - or types, in the sense of classes of tokens - i.e. abstract objects. Such a duality will then be taken into account in the logical theory of syntax, semantics and pragmatics presented here. We point to the possibility of constructing the latter on two different levels, one stemming from concreta, construed as linguistic tokens of expressions, the other from their classes - namely types, conceived as abstract, ideal beings. The aim of this work is not only to outline such a theory with respect to the dual ontological nature of the expressions of language in terms that take into account a functional approach to language itself, but also to show that the logic based on it is ontologically neutral in the sense that it is abstracted from the level at which certain existential assumptions relating to the ontological nature of these linguistic expressions and their extra-linguistic ontological counterparts (objects) would have to be embraced.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Some Introductory Thoughts on Contemporary Polish Ontology VII
- On Essential Structures and Symmetries 1
- Prospects for an Animalistically Oriented Simple View 25
- How Long Does the Present Last? The Problem of Fissuration in Roman Ingarden’s Ontology 51
- The Subject’s Forms of Knowledge and the Question of Being 71
- The World as an Object of Formal Philosophy 87
- Logic and the Ontology of Language 109
- Benedict Bornstein’s Ontological Elements of Reality 133
- On the Topological Modelling of Ontological Objects: Substance in the Monadology 149
- Does Mathematical Possibility Imply Existence? 161
- Neologicism for Real(s) – Are We There Yet? 181
- Possible Worlds and Situations: How Can They Meet Up? 205
- The Ontologic of Actions 219
- “Physical Intentionality” and the Thomistic Theory of Formal Objects 245
- An Assessment of Contemporary Polish Ontology 271
- Author Index 295
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Some Introductory Thoughts on Contemporary Polish Ontology VII
- On Essential Structures and Symmetries 1
- Prospects for an Animalistically Oriented Simple View 25
- How Long Does the Present Last? The Problem of Fissuration in Roman Ingarden’s Ontology 51
- The Subject’s Forms of Knowledge and the Question of Being 71
- The World as an Object of Formal Philosophy 87
- Logic and the Ontology of Language 109
- Benedict Bornstein’s Ontological Elements of Reality 133
- On the Topological Modelling of Ontological Objects: Substance in the Monadology 149
- Does Mathematical Possibility Imply Existence? 161
- Neologicism for Real(s) – Are We There Yet? 181
- Possible Worlds and Situations: How Can They Meet Up? 205
- The Ontologic of Actions 219
- “Physical Intentionality” and the Thomistic Theory of Formal Objects 245
- An Assessment of Contemporary Polish Ontology 271
- Author Index 295
