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International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Journal | Volume | Article

143061

Language and know-how

David Simpson

pp. 629-643

Abstract

I address the assumption that communicative interaction is made possible by knowledge of a language. I argue that this assumption as it is usually expressed depends on an unjustified reification of language, and on an unsatisfactory understanding of "knowledge'. I propose instead that communicative interaction is made possible by (Rylean) know-how and by the development of (Davidsonian) passing theories. We then come to see that our focus ought to be, not on propositional knowledge of a language which we internally represent, but on the practical application of know-how in our understanding and interpretation of others.

Publication details

Published in:

Menary Richard (2010) 4E Cognition: embodied, embedded, enacted, extended. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences 9 (4).

Pages: 629-643

DOI: 10.1007/s11097-010-9183-x

Full citation:

Simpson David (2010) „Language and know-how“. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences 9 (4), 629–643.