LINGUIST List 15.1811

Mon Jun 14 2004

Books: Philosophy of Language: Rukmini

Editor for this issue: Neil Salmond <neillinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. kkaneta, Narrative Gravity: Rukmini

Title: Narrative Gravity
Subtitle: Conversation, Cognition, Culture
			
Publication Year: 2003
Publisher:	Routledge (Taylor and Francis) 
		http://www.routledge.com/
			
Author: Bhaya Nair Rukmini

Hardback: ISBN: 041530735X, Pages: 440, Price: U.S. $: 80.00


Abstract:
			
Narrative Gravity explores the anti-foundationalist, anti-essentialist
idea that our stories make us up, rather than we make up our stories.

The cognitive scientist Daniel C. Dennett has suggested that human
beings tell stories as compulsively as beavers build dams or birds
nests. Our basic identities are conferred on us by the myriad takes
we hear and narrate throughout our lifetimes. All "selves" are
"centres of narrative gravity."

But even if it is true that we are born to weave stories, why is it
that we are so "programmed?" Narrative Gravity attempts to answer
this question by carrying the important but embryonic notion that
stories are obsessive self-constructions, to its logical conclusion.
The book argues that narrative - a universal form found in every known
human culture - functions as a "species of natural theory."

This is a foundational text for students of linguistics, philosophy
and literary theory. It will also appeal to the general reader
interested in the psychology and sociology of language and cultural
cognition. 


Lingfield(s):	Anthropological Linguistics 
		Linguistic Theories 
		Philosophy of Language

Written In: English (Language Code: English)

 See this book announcement on our website:
	 http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=9570