Quintessence: Basic Readings from the Philosophy of W. V. Quine

Quintessence: Basic Readings from the Philosophy of W. V. Quine is a curated collection of key writings from the influential American philosopher Willard Van Orman Quine. Spanning Quine’s groundbreaking work in logic, epistemology, philosophy of language, and metaphysics, this volume presents essential readings that showcase his contributions to 20th-century analytic philosophy.

The selected essays include Quine’s critiques of the analytic-synthetic distinction, his arguments for ontological relativity, and his rejection of traditional empiricism in favor of a holistic view of knowledge. His famous works, such as Two Dogmas of Empiricism and Word and Object, are highlighted, reflecting his position that meaning and knowledge are deeply interconnected with linguistic frameworks and empirical science.

This collection provides an accessible entry point into Quine’s dense but influential philosophy, offering students and scholars a comprehensive overview of his intellectual legacy. With his rejection of foundationalism and his emphasis on the interdependence of language and knowledge, Quine’s work continues to shape contemporary debates in philosophy.

Product Details:

• ISBN: 0674027558
• EAN: 9780674027558
• Publisher: Belknap Press
  
• Binding: Paperback
• Copyright Date: 2004
• Pub Date: April 01, 2008
• Physical Info: 2.82 cms H x 22.5 cms L x 15.19 cms W (0.56 kgs), 432 pages