Original scientific paper

Analyticity and language engineering in Carnap's Logical syntax

Sam Hillier

Abstract

One of the most important events in early analytic philosophy was the analyticity debate between Carnap and Quine. By analyzing this debate, much can be learnt about Carnap's logical empiricism at the time of Logical Syntax. This distinction is in many ways central to
Carnap's philosophy, so his defense of it should be illuminating. I will critically discuss two interpretations of Carnap’s defense of analyticity, and conclude that while each interpretation does capture a significant portion of Carnap’s major philosophical project, neither
interpretation on its own can be considered as a complete and satisfactory picture of Carnap’s logical empiricism. In their place, I propose an entirely new way to see Carnap’s logical empiricism which maintains the positive points of the previous views but avoids their pitfalls, and which also contains a response to Quine’s challenges.

Keywords

Rudolf Carnap; Willard Van Orman Quine; analyticity; logical syntax; logical empiricism

Hrčak ID:

63450

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/63450

Publication date:

1.12.2010.

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