This pioneering book lays new foundations for the study of reference and truth. It seeks to explain the origins and characteristics of human ways of relating to the world by means of an understanding of the inherent structures of the mind. Wolfram Hinzen explores truth in the light of Noam Chomsky's Minimalist Program. Truth, he argues, is a function of the human mind and, in particular, likely presupposes the structure of the human clause. Professor Hinzen begins by setting out the essentials of the Minimalist Program and by considering the explanatory role played by the interfaces of the linguistic system with other cognitive systems. He then sets out an internalist reconstruction of meaning. He argues that meaning stems from concepts, originating not from reference but from intentional relations built up in human acts of language in which such concepts figure. How we refer, he suggests, is a function of the concepts we possess, rather than the reverse in which reference to the world gives us the concepts to realize it. He concludes with extended accounts of declarative sentences and names, the two aspects of language which seem most inimical to his approach. The book makes important and radical contributions to theory and debate in linguistics, philosophy, and cognitive science. The author frames his argument in a way that will be readily comprehensible to scholars and advanced students in all three disciplines.

About the Author
Wolfram Hinzen obtained a PhD from the University of Bern and a Habilitation from the University of Regensburg. He became an Assistant Professor at the Universiteit van Amsterdam in 2003, and Professor of Philosophy of Language at the University of Durham in 2006. His research is broadly placed in the biolinguistic program and addresses issues of grammatical architecture with a view on their implications for human nature and the human mind. His books include Mind Design and Minimal Syntax (OUP, 2006), an edited volume on interdisciplinary perspectives on psycho-physical dualism (published in the journal Erkenntnis), and a volume co-edited with Hans Rott on belief and meaning (Hansel-Hohenhausen, 2003).

Reviews
...a well-structured, well written book... * Georg Ki*cll, The Journal of Lingustics *
In Minimal Mind Design, Wolfram Hinzen laid out the philosophical foundations of a minimalist naturalization of meaning. Most philosophers would have been satisfied with that important contribution; Hinzen took it as a mere first step. In this sequel, he embarks on a far-reaching program, aiming at rethinking the old chestnuts of concepts, names and truth within a radically Chomskyan paradigm. I simply do not know of any other work of this scope and profoundness that is as well-versed on current syntactic theorizing. * Juan Uriagereka, Professor of Linguistics, The University of Maryland at College Park *
The book marks a signal step in the evolution of generative grammar and the unification of mind and brain. It should command the attention of linguists, philosophers, psychologists and the field of cognitive science. * Tom Roeper, University of Massachusetts, Amherst *
...a book like Hinzen's is welcome... * Ileana Paul and Robert J. Stainton, Mind *
In this finely crafted essay Hinzen argues that quintessentially semantic notions like Truth and Reference are in fact deeply grounded in natural language syntax. This is nothing less than the beginning of a Copernican revolution in philosophy of language and mind. This should be on everyone's required reading list. * Cedric Boeckx, Harvard University *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199226528
Author Wolfram Hinzen
Format Paperback
Page Count 254
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 398g
Dimensions(mm) 233mm * 157mm * 15mm