Review Of Locke's Philosophy Of Language

In contemporary age, man pays greater attention to Locke?s thought of language philosophy than ever. But the studying of language is not originated from contemporary age, many philosophers did much work in linguistic analysis of philosophy in ancient times, Middle ages and modem times. Among them, Locke? s thought of language philosophy plays an outstandingly historical role in the changement from classic philosophy to modem language philosophy. It is not only because Locke?s thought of language philosophy is an important part in his entire philosophy system, but also because much thought of Locke has great impact on contemporarily analytic philosophy even in contemporary age. Because of the special position of Locke?s thought of language philosophy, we should examine it carefully, thoroughly and comprehensively as possible as we can, and it is necessary not only to comprehensively appreciate Locke?s entire philosophy system, but also to deeply recognize contemporary thought of language philosophy. Locke?s thought of language philosophy is developed on the base of criticizing and inheritting his predessors?thought. So in the first part, the thesis analyses the theoretical origin of Locke?s language philosophy from three ages: ancient times, Middle ages ?? and modem times. Among them, we mainly examine the linguistic analysis of Plato and Aristotle in ancient times. In addition, we still test the division between categorematic terms and syncategorematie terms that philosophers made in Middle ages and the analysis of the signification of syncategorematic terms, and judge thought of language philosophy of Bacon and Hobbes in modem times. The effect that linguistic analysis of philosophers in these three ages has on Locke?s thought of language philosophy is both substantial and critical. Because Locke?s thought of language philosophy is abundant, this thesis begins with the second part to examine it concretely from such four aspects as the theory of meaning, the doctrine of propositions, the theory of Truth and the relationship between language and reality. In accordance with the theory of meaning being the cardinal content of Locke?s thought of language philosophy, this thesis points out man often thought Locke?s theory of meaning only included his idealism, once Locke?s theory of meaning was concemed with in the past. But this is not how things are. We must admit that idealism is the fundamental content of Locke ?s theory of meaning, although it is only one part of Locke?s position of words and phrases?meanings. Locke?s theory of linguistic meaning includes position of titles?meaning and position of propositions~ meaning, except for position of words and phrases? ?? meanings which plays a fundamental role. This part mainly examines Locke?s position of words and phrases?meanings, including idealism, the theory of secret reference and the functions and meanings of prime wordsC~i~i). Locke?s doctrine of propositions is also comparatively abundant. First of all, Locke divides general propositions into intuitional propositions, provable propositions and the propositions in the aspect of entities based on his predessors?thought. And this division has great effect on Leibniz and Hume. Secondly, Locke...