Talking Wolves advances an analysis of Hobbes which takes language seriously (as seriously as Hobbes took it). It presents a reading of Hobbes's view of society at large, and political society in particular, through a comprehensive discussion based on, and intimately linked to, his philosophy of language. This philosophy, in turn, is seen in a new light as being a pragmatic theory of language in use, language in action.

Inhalt

Preface. Introduction. Part I: Language. 1. Human Voices: Semantics and Beyond. 2. Use and Effect: Speech as Use. 3. Speech Useful: A Theory of Language Use. Part II: The Language of Politics. 4. Conversation of Mankind: The Meaning of Moral Concepts. 5. Everyman's Will: Speech Acts. 6. A Common Language: Natural, Social and Linguistic. Part III: The Politics of Language. 7. Policy Ecclesiasticall: Religious Interpretation. 8. Eloquence is Power: The Office of Rhetoric. Conclusion. Appendix: Pragmatics. Bibliography. Index.