From pragmatics to semiotics
The influence of John Wilkins’ pulpit oratory on his philosophical language
John Wilkins’ (1614–1672) earlier work on pulpit oratory in Ecclesiastes (1646) and Gift of Prayer (1655) provide a rationale for his later work on philosophical language in his Essay towards a Real Character (1868). Clauss (1982) pointed out that one could view Wilkins’ linguistic writings as compatible, and the present paper advances her argument by showing that his work on philosophical language grew out of his work on pulpit oratory. Moreover, his pulpit oratory is rooted in pragmatics – how to move the listener to righteous action – while his philosophical language is focused on semiotics – how to convey the ‘true meaning’ of all things and notions.
References (22)
References
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Shapiro, Barbara J. 1983. Probability and Certainty in Seventeenth-Century England: A study of the relationships between natural science, religion, history, law. and literature. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton Univ. Press.
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Subbiondo, Joseph L. 1977. “John Wilkins’ Theory Meaning and the Development of a Semantic Model”. Cahiers Linguistiques d’Ottawa 51.41–61. (Repr. in Subbiondo 1992.291–308.)
Wilkins, John. 1646. Ecclesiastes, or a Discourse of the preaching as it falls under the rules of art. London: Samuel Gellibrand.
Wilkins, John. 1655. A Discourse concerning the Gift of Prayer Shewing What it is, wherein it consists and how far it is attainable by Industry with divers, useful, and proper directions to the purpose, both in respect of Matter, Method, and Expression. London: Samuel Gellibrand.
Wilkins, John. 1668. An Essay towards a Real Character, and a Philosophical Language. London: Samuel Gellibrand & John Martyn.
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