| Synopsis: |
Paul Grice is best known for a few short articles that have been hugely influential in philosophy and particularly in linguistics. However, these form only a small part of a wide-ranging body of work covering meaning, reference, logic, metaphysics and ethics. This is the first book-length study of Grice's work as a whole. It draws on both published and unpublished material to demonstrate the development of, but also the essential coherence of, Grice's thinking. Siobhan Chapman discusses his lesser-known writings and reconsiders the ideas for which he is best known, particularly the theory of conversation, in the context of his work as a whole. She considers Grice's ideas in terms of their impact, particularly on the development of pragmatics, and assesses Grice's work in the context of the time in which it was written, examining how it was shaped by his personal philosophical influences and career, and by his character. |