J. L. Speranza -- "H. P. Grice: la conversazione"
The document presents a comprehensive philosophical analysis of H. P. Grice’s theory of conversation, situating it within the broader context of Oxford philosophy and its historical development. It explores Grice’s lifelong project of developing a rationalist, intention-based account of communication and signification, emphasizing conversation as a reason-guided activity and a form of rational cooperation among interlocutors. The analysis covers Grice’s early works, his interactions with contemporaries, and his evolving conceptual framework, including his distinctions between explicit and implicit meaning, conversational moves, and the underlying theory-theory of rationality supporting conversation. Part One: The Framework Grice’s philosophical journey began with early works such as “Negation and Privation” and “Personal Identity,” where he grappled with concepts like the self and logical constructions, drawing from Locke and Broad. These works laid the groundwork for his later focus o...