Preface Introduction: The Issues I.  General Character of the Issues II.  Overall Outline A.  The Logic of Texts B.  The Epistemology of Texts Part I.  The Logic of Texts 1.  Intension I.  Elements in the Definition of Texts A.  Entities that Constitute Texts (ECTs) B.  Signs C.  Specific Meaning D.  Intention E.  Selection and Arrangement F.  Context II.  Conventionality of Texts III.  Conclusion 2.  Extension I.  Texts and Language II.  Texts and Artifacts III.  Texts and Art Objects IV.  Texts and Works V.  Conclusion 3.Taxonomy I.  Modal Classification A.  Actual Text 1.  Historical Text 2.  Contemporary Text 3.  Intermediary Text B.  Intended Text C.  Ideal Text II.  Functional Classification A.  Linguistic Functions 1.  Informative Texts 2.  Directive Texts 3.  Expressive Texts 4.  Evaluative Texts 5.  Performative Texts B.  Cultural Functions 1.  Legal Texts 2.  Literary Texts 3.  Philosophical Texts 4.  Scientific Texts 5.  Religious Texts 6.  Historical Texts 7.  Political Texts 8.  Pedagogical Texts 9.  Confessional Texts 10.  Entertaining Texts 11.  Inspirational Texts 12.  Pneumonic Texts 13.  Other Functional Categories of Texts III.  Conclusion Part II.  The Epistemology of Texts 4.  Understanding I.  Understanding versus Meaning II.  Number of Understandings III.  Understanding and Textual Identity IV.  Limits of Understanding A.  Limits of Meaning 1.  Essential and Accidental Differences in Meaning 2.  Meaning and the Implications of Meaning 3.  Meaning and Intentions B.  Factors that Establish the Limits of Meaning 1.  Author 2.  Audience 3.  Context 4.  Society 5.  Language 6.  Text 7.  Cultural Function C.  Limits of Textual Understanding D.  Legitimacy of Understanding Texts Differently than their Historical Authors V.  Truth Value and Objectivity of Understanding VI.  Conclusion 5.  Interpretation I.  Nature and Ontological Status of Interpretations II.  Interpreter's Dilemma and Function of Interpretations A.  Historical Function B.  Meaning Function C.  Implicative Function III.  Types of Interpretations: Textual vs. Nontextual IV.  Number, Truth Value, and Objectivity of Interpretations A.  Of Textual Interpretations 1.  Number 2.  Truth Value 3.  Objectivity and Subjectivity B.  Of Nontextual Interpretations V.  Understanding, Meaning, and Interpretation of Interpretations VI.  Conclusion 6.  Discernibility I.  How Do I Know that Something Is a Text? II.  How Do I Learn the Meaning of a Text? III.  How Can I Be Certain that I Know the Meaning of a Text? A.  Expected Behavior and Certainty in Textual Understanding B.Objections C.  The Role of Tradition in the Discernibility of Texts IV.  Conclusion Conclusion: A Theory of Texuality — Logic and Epistemology Notes Select Bibliography Index of Authors Index of Subjects

"Gracia shows in a very detailed manner, that it is now time for questions related to the status of texts (ontological status, metaphysical status, logical status, and epistemological status) to be taken as equally important to classic strands of analytic philosophy as these questions have been to more recent strands of Continental philosophy and literary criticism." — Gayle L. Ormiston, Kent State University"I don't know any other book like it. Gracia introduces a philosophical topology for a whole range of problems centered on language and textuality. He is careful in making very useful distinctions that help to cut through a lot of current confusion about interpretation." — Rudolf A. Makkreel, Emory University