Holism grows out of the philosophical position that an object or
phenomenon is more than the sum of its parts. And yet analysis--a
mental process crucial to human comprehension--involves breaking
something down into its components, dismantling the whole in order
to grasp it piecemeal and relationally. Wading through such
quandaries with grace and precision, "The Institutions of Meaning
"guides readers to a deepened appreciation of the entity that
ultimately enables human understanding: the mind itself.
This major work from one of France's most innovative
philosophers goes against the grain of analytic philosophy in
arguing for the view known as anthropological holism. Meaning is
not fundamentally a property of mental representations, Vincent
Descombes says. Rather, it arises out of thought that is holistic,
embedded in social existence, and bound up with the common
practices that shape the way we act and talk.
To understand what an individual "believes" or "wants"--to
apply psychological words to a person--we must take into account
the full historical and institutional context of a person's life.
But how can two people share the same thought if they do not share
the same system of belief? Descombes solves this problem by
developing a logic of relations that explains the ability of humans
to analyze structures based on their parts. Integrating insights
from anthropology, linguistics, and social theory, "The
Institutions of Meaning "pushes philosophy forward in bold new
directions.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!