Sign-In
Cart
Linguistic Turn: A Note on the Philosophical School
Paperback
Series: Western Philosophical Schools, Book 27
Publisher: Pons Malleus
Published: Jan 7 2026
Pages: 92
Weight: 0.26
Height: 0.19 Width: 5.50 Depth: 8.50
Language: English
In the history of philosophy, few shifts have been as transformative as the Linguistic Turn. Emerging in the early 20th century, this intellectual movement recast language-not merely as a medium for expressing thought, but as the very framework within which thought itself takes shape. It redirected philosophical inquiry from metaphysical speculation to the analysis of language, ushering in a profound reorientation of how we understand meaning, truth, and reality. This book explores that pivotal moment and its reverberations across the philosophical landscape.
The Linguistic Turn is not the work of a single philosopher or school, but rather a constellation of thinkers-each grappling with the implications of language for philosophy's most enduring questions. From Gottlob Frege's formal semantics and Bertrand Russell's logical atomism, to Ludwig Wittgenstein's shifting views in the Tractatus and Philosophical Investigations, and through the later developments in ordinary language philosophy with figures like J.L. Austin and Gilbert Ryle-the turn represents a kaleidoscope of insights into the power, limits, and structures of language.
At its core, the Linguistic Turn challenges the notion that we can access a pre-linguistic or purely objective reality. It asserts instead that our access to the world is always mediated through language. This has profound consequences: it forces us to reconsider the possibility of objective knowledge, the boundaries of philosophical inquiry, and the function of philosophy itself. For some, like the logical positivists of the Vienna Circle, language became the filter for determining meaningful discourse. For others, language revealed the embeddedness of meaning in use, in form, and in cultural and historical context.
This book is not a mere historical account of ideas. Rather, it seeks to trace the philosophical consequences of this turn and explore its ongoing relevance. While the Linguistic Turn may have reached its zenith in the mid-20th century, its legacy continues to shape contemporary debates in philosophy of language, epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and even political theory. The analytic-continental divide, the rise of post-structuralism, and the development of cognitive science all bear marks of its influence.
The reader will encounter both foundational texts and lesser-known but equally important voices. While certain chapters will delve into technical arguments-such as those concerning reference, truth conditions, or speech acts-others will focus on the broader implications of linguistic philosophy for human self-understanding. The goal is to illuminate not only what the Linguistic Turn has contributed to philosophy, but why it continues to matter.
In presenting this work, I have attempted to strike a balance between rigorous exposition and accessible narrative. It is written for the philosophically inclined reader-whether a student encountering these ideas for the first time or a seasoned thinker revisiting them with fresh eyes. I hope that, by the end of the journey, the reader will appreciate language not just as a tool we use, but as a landscape we inhabit-a terrain of meaning that shapes our every thought, belief, and inquiry.
Philosophy did not end with the Linguistic Turn. But it was irrevocably changed by it. And that transformation, in all its complexity and nuance, is what this book seeks to explore.
Also in
Etymology
English Grammar in Use Book with Answers: A Self-Study Reference and Practice Book for Intermediate Learners of English
Murphy, Raymond
Paperback
English Collocations in Use Intermediate Book with Answers: How Words Work Together for Fluent and Natural English
McCarthy, Michael
O'Dell, Felicity
Paperback
Scribblers, Sculptors, and Scribes: A Companion to Wheelock's Latin and Other Introductory Textbooks
LaFleur, Richard A.
Paperback
The Perfect English Grammar Workbook: Simple Rules and Quizzes to Master Today's English
McLendon, Lisa
Paperback
English Phrasal Verbs in Use Advanced Book with Answers: Vocabulary Reference and Practice
O'Dell, Felicity
McCarthy, Michael
Paperback
The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need, Updated Edition: Your One-Stop Source for Mastering English Grammar
Thurman, Susan
Paperback
English Vocabulary in Use: Advanced Book with Answers: Vocabulary Reference and Practice
McCarthy, Michael
O'Dell, Felicity
Paperback
English Vocabulary in Use Upper-Intermediate Book with Answers: Vocabulary Reference and Practice
O'Dell, Felicity
McCarthy, Michael
Paperback
Practice Makes Perfect: English Vocabulary for Beginning ESL Learners, Premium Fourth Edition
Yates, Jean
Paperback
Practice Makes Perfect: Complete English All-In-One for ESL Learners, Premium Second Edition
Swick, Ed
Paperback
101 Conversations in Intermediate English: Short, Natural Dialogues to Improve Your Spoken English from Home
Richards, Olly
Paperback
The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll Through the Hidden Connections of the English Language
Forsyth, Mark
Forsyth, Mark
Paperback
Inglés En 100 Días - Inglés Para Conversar / English in 100 Days: Conversational English
Inglés En 100 Días
Paperback
101 Conversations in Simple English: Short, Natural Dialogues to Boost Your Confidence & Improve Your Spoken English
Richards, Olly
Paperback
Practice Makes Perfect: Advanced English Grammar for ESL Learners, Second Edition
Lester, Mark
Paperback
Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins of Everyday Sayings and Fun Phrases
Thompson, Andrew
Hardcover
English Vocabulary in Use Upper-Intermediate Book with Answers and Enhanced eBook: Vocabulary Reference and Practice
McCarthy, Michael
O'Dell, Felicity
Paperback
Practice Makes Perfect: Intermediate English Grammar for ESL Learners, Third Edition
Torres-Gouzerh, Robin
Paperback
Inglés Básico: Una introducción práctica en treinta temas básicos para empezar a hablar ya!
Welsch, Daniel
Paperback
Inglés En 100 Días. Inglés Para Latinos. Nueva Edición / English in 100 Days. the Latino's Complete English Course
Inglés En 100 Días
Paperback
Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English (Fourth Edition)
O'Conner, Patricia T.
Paperback
50 English Coffee Breaks: Short Activities to Improve Your English One Cup at a Time
Coffee Break Languages
Paperback
Azar-Hagen Grammar - (Ae) - 5th Edition - Student Book with App - Fundamentals of English Grammar
Azar, Betty
Hagen, Stacy
Paperback
The Why You Say It: The Fascinating Stories Behind Over 600 Everyday Words and Phrases
Garrison, Webb
Paperback
Practical English Usage, 4th Edition Paperback: Michael Swan's Guide to Problems in English
Swan, Michael
Paperback
The Best Punctuation Book, Period: A Comprehensive Guide for Every Writer, Editor, Student, and Businessperson
Casagrande, June
Paperback
Biología y procesos vivos: Diccionario etimológico crítico del castellano
Goitia Blanco, Javier
Paperback
English Grammar in Use Supplementary Exercises Book with Answers: To Accompany English Grammar in Use Fifth Edition
Hashemi, Louise
Paperback
The Illustrated Histories of Everyday Expressions: Discover the True Stories Behind the English Language's 64 Most Popular Idioms
McGuire, James
Hardcover
McGraw-Hill Education 400 Must-Have Words for the Toefl, 2nd Edition
Stafford-Yilmaz, Lynn
Zwier, Lawrence
Paperback
American English File Second Edition: Level 4 Student Book: With Online Practice
Latham-Koenig, Christina
Oxenden, Clive
Paperback
English Pronunciation in Use Intermediate Book with Answers and Downloadable Audio
Hancock, Mark
Paperback
The Horologicon: A Day's Jaunt Through the Lost Words of the English Language
Forsyth, Mark
Paperback
Vandals, Scapegoats, and Bootleggers: The Curious Origins of Everyday Words
Thompson, Andrew
Paperback
The Illustrated Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll Through the Hidden Connections of the English Language
Forsyth, Mark
Hardcover
Japan's Cultural Codewords: 233 Key Japanese Terms and Expressions to Help You Navigate the Culture Successfully
De Mente, Boye Lafayette
Paperback
Exam Essentials Practice Tests: Cambridge English Advanced 2 with Key and DVD-ROM
Yeates, Eunice
Bradbury, Tom
Paperback
Words on the Move: Why English Won't - And Can't - Sit Still (Like, Literally)
McWhorter, John
Paperback
Introduction to Ebonics: The Relexification of African Grammar with English and Other Indo-European Words
Taylor, Linda R.
Paperback
American Headway Third Edition: Level Starter Student Book: With Oxford Online Skills Practice Pack
Soars, John And Liz
Paperback
Collaboration and Co-Teaching for English Learners: A Leader′s Guide
Honigsfeld, Andrea
Dove, Maria G.
Paperback
Objective Proficiency Student's Book with Answers with Downloadable Software
Capel, Annette
Sharp, Wendy
Paperback
American English File Second Edition: Level 1 Student Book: With Online Practice
Seligson, Paul
Latham-Koenig, Christina
Oxenden, Clive
Hardcover
Work on Your Vocabulary: A Practice Book for Learners at Upper Intermediate Level
Collins Uk
Paperback
A Student's Introduction to English Grammar
Huddleston, Rodney
Pullum, Geoffrey K.
Reynolds, Brett
Paperback
Azar-Hagen Grammar - (Ae) - 5th Edition - Student Book with App - Basic English Grammar
Hagen, Stacy
Azar, Betty
Paperback
Tracks That Speak: The Legacy of Native American Words in North American Culture
Cutler, Charles L.
Paperback
First for Schools Trainer Six Practice Tests with Answers and Teachers Notes with Audio
Elliott, Sue
O'Dell, Felicity
Tiliouine, Helen
Paperback
Vox Populi: 600 Latin Quotes and Phrases for Everyday Life and Personal Inspiration
Vitali, Giulio
Paperback
Inspired Baby Names from Around the World: 6,000 International Names and the Meaning Behind Them
Shane, Neala
Paperback
Learn English Paragraph Writing Skills: ESL Paragraph Essentials for International Students
Dew, Stephen E.
Paperback
Exam Essentials Practice Tests: Cambridge English Advanced 1 with DVD-ROM
Bradbury, Tom
Yeates, Eunice
Paperback
100 TESOL Activities: Practical ESL/EFL Activities for the Communicative Classroom
Dixon, Shane
Paperback
Why Do We Say That? The Origins & History Of Your Favorite Expressions, Phrases & Proverbs
Matthews, Scott
Paperback
Dhatupatha Verbs in 10 Lakaras Vol III: Roots of Conjugation 10c
Aggarwal, Ashwini Kumar
Hemswaroopa, Sadhvi
Hardcover