Analyticity by Juhl, Cory; Loomis, Eric;

Short description:

Analyticity, or the 'analytic/synthetic' distinction is one of the most important and controversial problems in contemporary philosophy. In this outstanding introduction to analyticity Cory Juhl and Eric Loomis provide a clear and thorough survey of the problem.

Long description:

Analyticity, or the 'analytic/synthetic' distinction is one of the most important and controversial problems in contemporary philosophy. It is also essential to understanding many developments in logic, philosophy of language, epistemology and metaphysics. In this outstanding introduction to analyticity Cory Juhl and Eric Loomis cover the following key topics:

• The origins of analyticity in the philosophy of Hume and Kant


• Carnap's arguments concerning analyticity in the early twentieth century


• Quine's famous objections to analyticity in his classic 'Two Dogmas of Empiricism' essay


• The relationship between analyticity and central issues in metaphysics, such as ontology


• The relationship between analyticity and epistemology


• Analyticity in the context of the current debates in philosophy, including mathematics and ontology

Throughout the book the authors show how many philosophical controversies hinge on the problem of analyticity. Additional features include chapter summaries, annotated further reading and a glossary of technical terms making the book ideal to those coming to the problem for the first time.

'Juhl and Loomis have provided an interesting and engaging introduction to the problem of distinguishing analytic from synthetic sentences. They do an admirable job of explaining the importance of this distinction by tracing its history from Hume to Kant to the logical positivists and, in the last few chapters, to debates which are at the center of contemporary analytic philosophy.' – Jeff Speaks, University of Notre Dame, USA

'This is a great book, and certainly the best introduction to the history of analytic/synthetic distinction out there. Juhl and Loomis trace the distinction through the work of Kant, Bolzano and Frege, before paying special attention the development of Quine and Carnap's views, and presenting and defending their own account of analyticity.' - Gillian Russell, Washington University, St Louis, USA

Table of Contents:

Introduction  1. Conceptions of analytic truth  2. Carnap and Quine  3. Analyticity and its discontents  4. Analyticity and ontology  5. Analyticity and epistemology  6. Analyticity repositioned  Glossary  Notes  Bibliography  Index