In his Essay Concerning Human Understanding, John Locke labels all use of figurative language (along with any elements of style other than clarity) as abuses of language. In this talk, Lewis Powell, associate professor of philosophy at the University at Buffalo, presents the basics of Locke’s theory of language and argues for a particular interpretation of Locke’s literalist thesis and his motivation for endorsing it. That motive concerns ease of communication, understanding and interpretation, particularly in the transmission of knowledge. Powell investigates whether the putative advantages of his approach can be defended within his or other frameworks.

Sponsored by The Jerome Balmuth Fund and Marion Hoeflich Endowment