Description
Book SynopsisTowards Non-Being presents an account of the semantics of intentional language--verbs such as ''believes'', ''fears'', ''seeks'', ''imagines''. Graham Priest tackles problems concerning intentional states which are often brushed under the carpet in discussions of intentionality, such as their failure to be closed under deducibility. Priest''s account draws on the work of the late Richard Routley (Sylvan), and proceeds in terms of objects that may be either existent or non-existent, at worlds that may be either possible or impossible. Since Russell, non-existent objects have had a bad press in Western philosophy; Priest mounts a full-scale defence. In the process, he offers an account of both fictional and mathematical objects as non-existent. The book will be of central interest to anyone who is concerned with intentionality in the philosophy of mind or philosophy of language, the metaphysics of existence and identity, the philosophy or fiction, the philosophy of mathematics, or cognit
Trade Reviewthere is a good deal inTNB2to interest readers ofTNB1.Of the latter, I once wrote that 'while I disagree with a very great deal of it, this is a stimulating, thought-provoking, and challenging book. This is a turbulent Priest whom we should be glad to have among us'. Ten years later, I see no reason to change a word of that. * Bob Hale, Philosophica Mathematica *
Priest has provided a very clear and honest accounting of what has been overlooked--non--existents. His book is clearly written and welcome reading. * Jim Kow, Metapsychology Online Reviews *
Table of ContentsI. SEMANTICS FOR INTENTIONALITY; II. IN DEFENCE OF NON-BEING; III. IMPOSSIBLE WORLDS AND (OTHER) NON-EXISTENT OBJECTS; IV: ET CETERA
