Summary
John L. Austin's "How to Do Things with Words" argues for a general theory of 'illocutionary forces' of utterances, which replaces his earlier distinction between performative utterances and statements. This new theory accounts for the diverse ways language functions beyond merely describing or reporting facts, by examining the actions performed through speaking.
The book details how utterances possess specific forces that enable speakers to perform actions such as promising, warning, or inviting. By moving beyond a simple true/false evaluation of statements, Austin provides a more comprehensive understanding of language's performative nature and its implications for various philosophical inquiries. Readers learn that saying something is also doing something, with distinct forces shaping communicative acts.
Key concepts
- Illocutionary forces — The specific actions performed by an utterance, such as promising or warning.
- Performative utterances — Utterances that perform an action by virtue of being uttered.
- Statements — Utterances that can be evaluated as true or false.
- Speech acts — The actions that are performed through the use of language.
From the book
Description: This work sets out Austin's conclusions in the field to which he directed his main efforts for at least the last ten years of his life. Starting from an exhaustive examination of his already well-known distinction between performative utterances and statements, Austin here finally abandons that distinction, replacing it with a more general theory of 'illocutionary forces' of utterances which has important bearings on a wide variety of philosophical problems.