"Gracia's argument is impressively clear and to the point. He develops a complex taxonomy of the distinctions he must marshal in order to fully explain what a text is, describing and defending each distinction with care and in detail. His conclusions follow reasonably from his arguments and he does an excellent job anticipating criticisms and answering them. Gracia is fully informed by the relevant philosophical scholarship on texts and on the wide range of metaphysical issues of which he must take account in order to establish his position." — George Allan, Dickinson College

This book completes the theory of textuality whose logical and epistemological dimensions were presented in Gracia's book, A Theory of Textuality: The Logic and Epistemology (SUNY Press). It provides an ontological characterization of texts consistent with the conception of texts defended in the earlier book; it explores the issues raised by the identity of various texts; and it presents a view of the identity and function of authors and audiences and of their relations to texts. The discussion is systematic, comprehensive, and detailed. Gracia raises all of the important issues related to texts within the areas he explores and takes into account the pertinent literature. The style is argumentative and clear, and the position Gracia defends is based on common sense. He stays clear of the extreme views some contemporary authors have taken with respect to texts and textuality.This is the only book of its kind. It is the first to develop a comprehensive theory and to adopt an integrative approach where the issues and their solutions are seen as closely connected.
Les mer
Provides an ontological characterization of texts, explores the issues raised by the identity of various texts, and presents a view of the function of authors and audiences, and of their relations to texts.
Les mer
Preface Introduction I. The Logic of Texts II. Outline 1. Ontological Status I. Are Texts Individual or Universal? A. Individuality and Universality of ECTs B. Individuality and Universality of Meanings C. Individuality and Universality of Texts II. Individuation of Texts III. Are Texts Physical or NonPhysical? A. Physical Texts B. Mental Texts IV. Relation of Texts to Meanings and ECTs V. Are Texts Substances or Features? VI. Are Texts Aggregates or Nonaggregates? VII. Existence and Location of Texts VIII. Historicity of Texts IX. Conclusion 2. Identity I. Sameness A. Achronic Sameness of Texts B. Synchronic Sameness of Texts C. Diachronic Sameness of Texts II. Difference III. Identification and Reidentification of Texts IV. Conclusion 3. Author I. Identity of the Author A. Historical Author B. Pseudo-Historical Author C. Composite Author D. Interpretative Author II. Function of the Author A. Function of the Historical Author B. Function of the Composite Author C. Function of the Pseudo-Historical Author D. Function of the Interpretative Author III. Need for an Author A. Need for the Historical author B.Need for the Pseudo-Historical Author C. Need for the Composite Author D. Need for the Interpretative Author IV. Repressive Character of the Author V. Subjectivity of the Author VI. Conclusion 4. Audience I. Identity of the Audience A. Types of Audience B. Composition of the Audience II. Function of the Audience III. Need for an Audience IV. Character of the Audience A. Subversive Character B. Repressive Character V. Subjectivity of the Audience VI. Conclusion Conclusion Notes Select Bibliography Index of Authors Index of Subjects
Les mer
"Gracia's argument is impressively clear and to the point. He develops a complex taxonomy of the distinctions he must marshal in order to fully explain what a text is, describing and defending each distinction with care and in detail. His conclusions follow reasonably from his arguments and he does an excellent job anticipating criticisms and answering them. Gracia is fully informed by the relevant philosophical scholarship on texts and on the wide range of metaphysical issues of which he must take account in order to establish his position." — George Allan, Dickinson College
Les mer

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780791429013
Publisert
1996-07-03
Utgiver
Vendor
State University of New York Press
Vekt
445 gr
Høyde
229 mm
Bredde
152 mm
Dybde
25 mm
Aldersnivå
P, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
215

Forfatter

Om bidragsyterne

Jorge J. E. Gracia is Professor in the Department of Philosophy at State University of New York at Buffalo. His other works include Philosophy and Literature in Latin America: A Critical Assessment of the Current Situation (with Mireye Camurati); Individuality: An Essay on the Foundations of Metaphysics; Philosophy and Its History: Issues in Philosophical Historiography; Individuation in Scholasticism: The Later Middle Ages and the Counter-Reformation, 1150–1650; Individuation and Identity in Early Modern Philosophy: Descartes to Kant (with Kenneth F. Barber), and A Theory of Textuality: The Logic and Epistemology, all published by SUNY Press.