The Game of the Name

This book is a good introduction to modern work in an important field of analytic philosophy. The main concerns of analytic philosophy are the investigation of language and the analysis of mind. Work on the former is shaped by the seminal logical theories of Frege, whilst work on the latter is mainly concerned with materialism. It has long been recognized that the two are intimately connected. The recent growth of cognitive science has stimulated new work in the overlapping areas, much of which is unfortunately inaccessible to undergraduates.

In this introduction to the subject, the author gives a clear explanation of Frege's basic logical ideas, and explains their application to ordinary language. He then shows how meaning is itself rooted in the philosophy of mind, and the question of intentionality - how the mind represents the world. He concludes with an examination of the different ways in which thought can be 'about' individual material objects.