The Dual Meaning of Meaning :: Philosophy Philosophical Essays

A central problem in the philosophy of language has been to find a way to reconcile first person authority about meaning with externalist theories of meaning. In other words, if meanings aren't wholly in the head (the externalist thesis), then how do we explain the apparent authority we have about what our own utterances mean? In this paper, I will present one possible and, I believe, highly plausible solution which will allow us to maintain that we do have first person authority with regard to the meanings of our utterances while still accepting the lessons that Twin Earth has taught us (that meanings are, at least in part, determined by the external world). Moreover, it is, I believe, a virtue of any philosophical theory that it remain as close to common sense as analytical rigour will allow. Thus, it is advisable that one try to approach philosophical questions as the layman — still 'untainted' by philosophy — would approach them. This brand of 'common sense phi losophy' is what I shall attempt to use in providing an account of meaning. Let us begin, then, by examining first person authority. It seems quite obvious to me that, should there be no successful reconciliation of first person authority with externalism, the former would defeat the latter in any theory of meaning. I do not say this just because it is highly counter-intuitive to think that we don't generally know what we mean when we speak, rather it seems to me to be impossible to deny that we have this knowledge: not only do we know what we mean, but we know that we know what we mean. Though most philosophers recognise the obviousness of this fact, some11 maintain that it is in need of an explanation. This, I believe, is because they take externalism as more 'primitive' than first person authority. What I mean is that these philosophers approach first person authority from the viewpoint of an already developed externalist theory. I suggest that, instead, we take the undeniability of first person authority as given and then attempt to provide a theory of meaning that preserves first person authority while accounting for the role of the external world in determining meaning. What exactly is it, then, of which we have this direct authoritative knowledge? And how, if at all, does it relate to the external world?

Mongolian Effects on Russia and China

In the years between 1100 and 1400 the Mongol empire stretched the farthest of any empire throughout history. Within the massive land under Mongol rule laid the lands of China and Russia. The Mongols knew how to maintain their empire but had different ways of doing it in each part. This lead to the separate, divergent ways of governing the two lands. In China and Russia, the Mongol era brought an immense change in political and economical power. In China, political impact from the Mongols came off much stricter than it did in Russia.The leader of the Mongolians, Kublai Khan guided the Mongols to conquer the Southern Song dynasty. Even though the Mongols had ruled territories, which included modern day northern China for many years, it was not until 1271 that Kublai Khan officially accepted a traditional Chinese style. When Kublai Khan established the Yuan dynasty, he practically conquered all of China. The Chinese weren’t as politically free as the Russians. For example Chines e were not allowed to inter-marry. He also banned Chinese scholars from learning Mongolian script and kept the two militaries separate.Mongol political control in Russia was different than China. One could argue that Mongolia was slightly â€Å"looser† with the Russian government. The Russians were aloud a grand prince to lead under Mongolian power but they were forced to pay tribute. Not only did the Mongol rule have a huge effect on the politics of China and Russia but the economy was affected as well. During the Mongolian rule, the China became a heart of trade for the Eastern world. This gave the Mongols complete control of the Silk Road. China had things that so many other places in the world wanted such as silk and porcelain.With a high demand for these Chinese goods the jobs were created, trade flourished, and the Mongolians highly benefited from the booming economy in China. The Mongols had a very different effect on the Russian economy than the Chinese economy. The M ongols caused the Russian economy to crash, which made Russia restart all of its agricultural affairs. This forced Russia to rely generally on peasant labor. Paper money was also being made which caused major inflation. Instead of becoming a hot spot for trade, Russia became weaker do to the economic Mongol torture.

Juvenile Delinquency And Its Effects On The Outside World

Juvenile Delinquency In my paper i will be discussing juvenile delinquency in a whole. We will look at it from the perspective of the rehabilitation and how it affects the outside world, to the juvenile that is the delinquent. The main topics of my paper will be rehabilitation vs punishment, the risk factors that cause the deviant behavior, and finally the traits of a juvenile offender. There is multiple risk factors that develop into the cause of juvenile delinquency. They have 4 major categories that go from individual, school and community, peer, and finally family(Siegel, Year, pg.52). Each factor is intertwined with each other like a chain linked fence. Also, each factor has its own sub factors that can be used more than once. It†¦show more content†¦Say he/she was born to a poor family with high crime activity. The only thing that this kid will know is gangs, violence, crimes. However, he wouldn t be exposed to proper schooling because in this area the education is poo r. Now with the peer part its very simple. This child we created will associate himself with the outcast type of kids. The delinquent ones that nobody messed with on the playground. He would feel apart of this group of kids because they probably have a similar life to him. Their home life is probably where all this behavior develops from. Family is a special topic when it comes to delinquency. To me it is the biggest factor that causes a child to be an delinquent.With regards to my own opinion, when it comes to raising your child you want whatever is best for them. If the child has a strong relationship with his parents i think delinquency would go down, and that goes for single parents or 2 parents. According to the study in the article Youth’s Characteristics and Background it shows that 46 percent of the children that committed juvenile acts were raised by two parents. However, explained it stated that â€Å"that both parents helped raise them, although this could have b een in separate households†. This states that there is no significant difference between 2 parents and single parents. It only depends on the relationship and bond between each member. After explaining aboutShow MoreRelatedJuvenile Gangs Essay980 Words   |  4 PagesRodriguez CJ150 Kaplan College Mr. Templeton August 30.2012 Juvenile gangs have become a serious and growing problem in many areas throughout the U.S. It is unlikely that gang control strategies can be successful as long as legitimate economic alternatives are lacking. I will be exploring the possible proactive solutions to this social problem. Juvenile gangs on the street and in prison â€Å"Violent crimes committed by juveniles are not diminishing, as other crimes, as reported by the JusticeRead MoreBreaking Down the Walls of Delinquency1685 Words   |  7 Pagesexplore how family life influences juvenile delinquency. 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