Foreword

What we propose to do in this study is consider the views of Carnap and Grice. But not so in a mere historical sense (what Grice at least would have as a longitudinal sense) but in a latitudinal sense as well. As it says things to us _now_.

We will be concerned with 'disciplinary' issues -- and notably as to the value of 'philosophy', or the philosophical campaign. In particular, we want to reassess Carnap's, or the received Carnapian view against metaphysics, and Grice, or the received Gricean view _pro_ it.

We will tread 'eschatological' ground. For we have to conjugate, as it were, Carnap's _pragmatist_ leanings with Grice's _constructivist_ ones. We want to give room for the enterprise of philosophy, be able to reply to the most important of both Carnap's and Grice's doubts that the enterprise has originated, and at the same time provide some way out of them.

We see the task before us as 'liberatory' and 'exhilarating'. By viewing ourselves and inviting our dear reader to view his or her own self on the way to the "City of Eternal Truth" we want to propose a few guidelines as to how to proceed along the tortuous path, the tourtousness is being smoothed for at least the purposes of our expositional allegory.

Enjoy the trip!



Roger Bishop Jones

J. L. Speranza