Convention: a Philosophical StudyConvention was immediately recognized as a major contribution to the subject and its significance has remained undiminished since its first publication in 1969. Lewis analyzes social conventions as regularities in the resolution of recurring coordination problems - situations characterized by interdependent decision processes in which common interests are at stake. Conventions are contrasted with other kinds of regularity, and conventions governing systems of communication are given special attention. This book is of central importance to philosophers, linguists, social scientists, legal theorists, and anyone interested in the role of convention in the function of social behavior and language. |
Contents
Foreword by W V Quine | 1 |
Convention Refined | 24 |
Knowledge of Conventions | 60 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
act according actual language affairs agents agreement alternative ambiguity analytic audience belfry choice choose Column-chooser combination common knowledge conditional preference conform I expect conform on condition conformative behavior contingency plan convention of truthfulness conventions of language coordination equilibrium coordination problem depend desire drive example finite games of pure given grammar higher-order expectations holds indicates instance Jotto lantern is observed means Modal Logic mood notation noun phrase observed hanging observed setting occasions of utterance Paul Revere payoff payoff matrix Philosophy of Language population possible language possible occasion possible world preference for conformity produce promise Quine rationality reason to believe redcoats are coming redcoats are observed replication Row-chooser rules semantic sentence sentential constituent shown in Figure Shwayder signaling conventions signaling problem signaling system situation social contract Suppose tion true truth condition uniform conformity verbal expression W. V. Quine warn the countryside