Quine's Theory Of Meaning And Analytic Philosophy With Pragmatism

Analytic philosophy not only dominates the Anglo-American philosophical movements of the twentieth century,but remains today.There are many comparative studies on the differences and similarities between analytic philosophy and continental philosophy.However,there are a few materials which gave a detailed discussion on the development of a philosopher's theory.In addition,domestic studies on analytic pragmatism are inadequate.Analytic pragmatism is one of the phases of neopragmatism.This research starts from Quine's arguments on meaning,explores the association of Quine's theory of meaning and analytic pragmatism.Quine's theory of meaning stimulates the combination of analytic philosophy with pragmatism by attacking analytic/synthetic distinction and reductionism.In addition,the holistic meaning theory Quine put forward in ‘Two Dogmas of Empiricism' suggests that theories about the physical world could not be tested in isolation.One explanation for this holism is that logic could be revised.Putnam,as one of the prominent figures in neopragmatism,is also a student of Quine.Putnam took some parts of Quine's holism and found that logic statements could be revised under some conditions.Hence,Quine's theory of meaning impacted the analytic pragmatism by reintroducing holism into analytic philosophy.Besides,translation indeterminacy is another achievement of Quine's theory of meaning.Rorty,who is commonly known as the founder of neopragmatism,elaborates on the behavioristic view of meaning reflected by Quine's translation indeterminacy in Philosophy and Mirror of Nature.In the book Philosophy and Mirror of Nature,Rorty stated that holistic view and pragmatic view held by Quine inspired him to write such a book.In addition,the behavioristic view of meaning contained by Quine's translation indeterminacy has also been elaborated by Rorty in chapter four of that book.Translation indeterminacy is also major component of Quine's theory of meaning.Therefore,it could be clarified again that Quine's theory of meaning drives the combination of analytic philosophy with pragmatism.On the ground of above discussion,the research question could be answered: Quine's theory of meaning generally drives the combination of analytic philosophy with pragmatism from three main phases,including Quine's attacking on analytic/synthetic distinction and reductionism,Quine's reintroducing holism into analytic philosophy and his proposing translation indeterminacy thesis.