Truth and the Past

Michael Dummett

Published by Columbia University Press 2003

Truth and the Past

Michael Dummett
Preface by: Akeel Bilgrami

In the series Columbia Themes in Philosophy

https://doi.org/10.7312/dumm13176

Overview
Contents

About this book

In Truth and the Past, Dummett, best known as a proponent of antirealism, clarifies his current positions on the metaphysical issue of realism and the philosophy of language. His three John Dewey Lectures were delivered at Columbia University in the spring of 2002. Revised and expanded, the lectures are presented here along with two new essays.

Michael Dummett's three John Dewey Lectures—"The Concept of Truth," "Statements About the Past," and "The Metaphysics of Time"—were delivered at Columbia University in the spring of 2002. Revised and expanded, the lectures are presented here along with two new essays by Dummett, "Truth: Deniers and Defenders" and "The Indispensability of the Concept of Truth."

In Truth and the Past, Dummett clarifies his current positions on the metaphysical issue of realism and the philosophy of language. He is best known as a proponent of antirealism, which loosely characterizes truth as what we are capable of knowing. The events of the past and statements about them are critical tests of an antirealist position. These essays continue and significantly contribute to Dummett's work.

Author / Editor information

Michael Dummett, was until his retirement in 1992, the Wykeham Professor of Logic at Oxford. He has also taught at Accra, Stanford, Minnesota, Bologna, Princeton, and Harvard, among other universities. He is the author of numerous books, including The Seas of Language; Frege: Philosophy of Language; and Origins of Analytical Philosophy.

Reviews

James C. Livingston:
A stimulating discussion.

Hilary Putnam, Harvard University:
The best of all possible experiences, if you are interested in philosophy at all, would have been to hear Michael Dummett himself deliver these lectures. If, like myself, you missed that experience, the very next best is to read this volume. This is the work of a great philosopher at the peak of his form.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Foreword Akeel Bilgrami Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	vii
Preface Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	ix
1. The Concept of Truth Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. The Indispensability of the Concept of Truth Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	29
3. Statements About the Past Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	41
4. The Semantics of the Past Tense Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	57
5. The Metaphysics of Time Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	73
6. Truth: Deniers and Defenders Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	97
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	117
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	119

Language: English
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 136

eBook

Published: December 30, 2003
ISBN: 9780231506458