Quines Philosophy: An Introduction

(Hardback, 2nd edition)

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W.V. Quine is one of the leading figures of 20th century analytic philosophy, and still among the most influential. But his work can be challenging and complex, and indeed often misunderstood. In this updated introduction to Quines thought, Gary Kemp examines his seemingly disparate views as a unified whole and offers a valuable guide for anyone approaching Quine for the first time. Informed by current debates and updated throughout, this edition now includes: Thoroughly revised and expanded text More references to commentaries, secondary literature and works by Quine Suggestions for further reading Newly introduced material on Empirical Content, Explication, Nominalism, The Purported Third Dogma, Theoreticity, Natural Selection and Linguistics. Historical notes on Quines relation to his predecessors and contemporaries Paying close attention to Quines seminal works including Word and Object and Philosophy of Logic, Kemp explains how his philosophy relates to thinkers including Rudolf Carnap and Wittgenstein, as well as to more recent figures such as Donald Davidson and Noam Chomsky. Kemp clearly and accurately emphasizes the systematic nature of Quines thought as one of naturalism. He advances our understanding of Quine and attests to his ongoing influence in philosophy of science, logic, language, ontology and epistemology. This unique introduction to Quines philosophy is recommended for any student interested in Quine and the history of analytic philosophy.

Reviews

Gary Kemps earlier Quine, A Guide for the Perplexed was one of the best entry points into Quines naturalist conception of philosophy. Now in this newly titled and revised version of that book, Kemp offers important updates to the original that will further help those studying Quines philosophy for the first time. * Robert Sinclair, Professor of Philosophy, Soka University, Tokyo, Japan *
Quine is one of the most influential philosophers of our time, and Gary Kemps book is a perfect introduction to his thought. It spells out his major views in a rigorous and reader-friendly way that will be most useful for anyone seeking for a way into the complexities of this fascinating philosophy. * Rogrio Severo, Professor of Philosophy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil *
This is a superb volume written with a light style. It will engage and inform students, and be a go-to text for experts wanting a summary of the major themes of Quines work (Kemp has the knack of finding just the right passage for the purposes at hand). It not only expertly discusses Quine himself, but offers insight into a range of related topics, especially naturalism, ontology, and the engagement of Chomsky with Quines work. I know of no better volume of its kind. * John Collins, Professor, University of East Anglia, UK *
This is an excellent introduction to Quines thought. Kemp is approachable while also preserving rigor. The historical and further reading notes are especially helpful to those wanting to pursue Quines thought further. Experts will also find the work stimulating, particularly the discussions of Quine and Chomsky. * Sean Morris. Professor of Philosophy, Metropolitan State University of Denver, USA *
This is an excellent overview of Quines philosophy. Kemp introduces Quines most prominent views, shows how they hang together, and demonstrates their continued importance. An accessible and up-to-date guide for both students and academics, written by a leading Quine scholar. * Sander Verhaegh, Associate Professor of Philosophy of Science, Tilburg University, The Netherlands *

Author Bio

Gary Kemp is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Glasgow, UK.