Philosophy and the Language of the People

The Claims of Common Speech from Petrarch to Locke

Philosophy and the Language of the People
Lodi Nauta
RRP:
NZ$ 61.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 55.79
Hardback
h235 x 160mm - 300pg
24 Jun 2021 UK
International import eta 7-19 days
9781108845960
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
Which language should philosophers use: technical or common language? In a book as important for intellectual historians as it is for philosophers, Lodi Nauta addresses a vital question which still has resonance today: is the discipline of philosophy assisted or disadvantaged by employing a special vocabulary? By the Middle Ages philosophy had become a highly technical discipline, with its own lexicon and methods. The Renaissance humanist critique of this specialised language has been dismissed as philosophically superficial, but the author demonstrates that it makes a crucial point: it is through the misuse of language that philosophical problems arise. He charts the influence of this critique on early modern philosophers, including Hobbes and Locke, and shows how it led to the downfall of medieval Aristotelianism and the gradual democratization of language and knowledge. His book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the transition from medieval to modern philosophy.
' Nauta is among the most distinguished historians of philosophy today. His study breaks new ground by concentrating on a vital issue in the early modern rivalry between humanism and scholasticism which still has great resonance in modern academe: the advantages and disadvantages that accrue to philosophy, or any professionalized study, from employing a special technical vocabulary to discuss philosophical problems. ' James Hankins, Harvard University ' This book is a great and inspiring tour d' horizon into philosophical reflection on the use of language - and, consequently, on linguistic practice - from the emergence of Renaissance humanism to major thinkers such as Hobbes and Locke . The author invites us into his novel and fascinating story of the genesis of Renaissance and Early Modern (and even contemporary) philosophy. ' Jan Papy, Catholic University of Leuven
Lodi Nauta is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Groningen. He is author and editor of several monographs and essay collections, including the award-winning In Defense of Common Sense: Lorenzo Valla' s Humanist Critique of Scholastic Philosophy (2009), and has written numerous journal articles and book chapters on medieval and early modern philosophy. He was a recipient of the Spinoza Award in 2016.
Status: Active
ISBN-13: 9781108845960
Published: 24 Jun 2021
Published In: United Kingdom
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Format: Hardback
Height: 235mm
Width: 160mm
Spine: 20mm
Weight: 530g
Pages: 300

In stock - for items in stock we aim to dispatch the next business day. For delivery in NZ allow 2-5 business days, with rural taking a wee bit longer.

Locally sourced in NZ - stock comes from a NZ supplier with an approximate delivery of 7-15 business days.

International Imports - stock is imported into NZ, depending on air or sea shipping option from the international supplier stock can take 10-30 working days to arrive into NZ. 

Pre-order Titles - delivery will vary depending on where the title is published, if local stock is available in NZ then 5-7 business days, for international imports it can be 10-30 business days. In all cases we will access the quickest supply option.

Delivery Packaging - we ship all items in cardboard sleeves or by box with either packing paper or corn starch chips. (We avoid using plastics bubble bags)

Tracking - Orders are delivered by track and trace courier and are fully insured, tracking information will be sent by email once dispatched.

View our full Order & Delivery information