Kant and the Platypus: Essays on Language and CognitionHMH, 2000 M11 9 - 464 pages How do we know a cat is a cat . . . and why do we call it a cat? An “intriguing and often fascinating” look at words, perceptions, and the relationship between them (Newark Star-Ledger). In Kant and the Platypus, the renowned semiotician, philosopher, and bestselling author of The Name of the Rose and Foucault’s Pendulum explores the question of how much of our perception of things is based on cognitive ability, and how much on linguistic resources. In six remarkable essays, Umberto Eco explores in depth questions of reality, perception, and experience. Basing his ideas on common sense, Eco shares a vast wealth of literary and historical knowledge, touching on issues that affect us every day. At once philosophical and amusing, Kant and the Platypus is a tour of the world of our senses, told by a master of knowing what is real and what is not. “An erudite, detailed inquirity into the philosophy of mind . . . Here, Eco is continental philosopher, semiotician, and cognitive scientist rolled all into one.” —Library Journal (starred review) |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 9 | |
| 20 | |
| 26 | |
| 35 | |
9 | 42 |
35 | 53 |
2 | 59 |
Chapter Five NOTES ON REFERRING AS CONTRACT | 280 |
The true story of the sarkiapone | 289 |
The Divine Mind as email | 296 |
Quid pro quo and negotiations | 302 |
Is Jones mad? | 310 |
Impossible objects | 317 |
On Ahabs other leg | 325 |
Endnotes | 393 |
Other editions - View all
Kant and the Platypus: Essays on Language and Cognition Umberto Eco,Alastair McEwen No preview available - 2000 |
Common terms and phrases
act of reference already analytic philosopher animal Aristotle Ayers Rock Aztecs basis bird called certainly cognitive type consider construct correspondence cultural decide defined definition discourse eggs empirical concepts Encyclopedia entity example exist expression fact Giorgione happens horse hypoicons idea identify imagine Immediate Object individual inference intellect interpretation intuition Kant Kantian knowledge language linguistic maçatl mammal meaning Mind MONOTREMES Montezuma mouse nature notion observation sentences oviparous Peirce Peirce's perceive perceptual experience perceptual judgment philosopher platypus point of view possible postulate precisely predicate primary iconism principle of charity problem properties propositions prostheses prototype pure quadruped qualia question recognition recognize regard rigid designation sarkiapone schema Schtroumpf seems seen semantic semiosis sensation sense someone speaker surrogate stimuli talk tell Theory of Semiotics things tion token tree Umberto Eco understand Vanville words