[文学研究]A FORMAL THEORY OF SPEECH ACTS.pdf

S.-Y. K U R O D A A F O R M A L T H E O R Y O F S P E E C H A C T S 0. I N T R O D U C T I O N The aim of this paper is to develop a formal theory which accounts for the fundamental properties of speech acts as deductive consequences (as theorems) of a system of axioms which belongs to the general theory of mind. The propositions characterizing speech acts I am concerned with here are consequences of Grices insight as revealed in his seminal paper, Meaning. Many philosophers have contributed since then to elaborate on Grices idea, notably, Strawson (1964), Searle (1969), Schiffer (1972) and Recanati (1984), among others. Thus, this paper is yet another attempt to clarify the full significance of Grices insightful paper. Its purpose, however, is to present a formal theory straightforwardly as a formal theory. Historical and conceptual commentaries are left for another occasion. I do not attempt in this paper to disentangle conceptual developments during this history of the rev- elation of the significance of Grices original insight. Nor do I attempt to relate individually the formulations of the definitions and the theorems that follow to their apparent historical sources. Such an attempt would necessarily involve exegetic interpretations of Grices paper and others. For now I steer clear of disagreements and disputes that could result from the conceptual interpretation of historical facts. Nonetheless, the reader familiar with the development of the speech act theory will cer