Talking wolves
Subtitle: Thomas Hobbes on the language of politics and the politics of language
By: Anat Biletzki.
Series: Synthese library ;; v. 262
Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Dordrecht; Boston
Language: eng
Number of pages: 212
Subjects: Hobbes, Thomas, 1588-1679; Language and languages -- Political aspects
Description: Talking Wolves makes the point of relating Hobbes's views on language to his views on politics. Latter-day discussions of Thomas Hobbes's philosophy of language lag far behind those of his political and moral philosophy; this book supports the claim that our understanding of both stands to profit from such an enterprise. A new reading of Hobbes on language is presented - namely, that Hobbes's theories of language are 'pragmatic' in the modern sense of the word - language in use, language in action.

Beyond the linguistic focus on Hobbes's works, this perspective is relevant and important for a new and richer understanding of his political and moral studies. Various moral, social and political issues arise in conjunction with this novel view of language: rhetoric, religious interpretation, and the 'science' of politics are working examples. Students and scholars of both political philosophy and the philosophy of language will find this study of interest.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [199]-207) and index.