Language from a Naturalistic Perspective

Why is it good to have a language? Many reasons, but one reason above all others: a shared language is a wonderful way of transmitting information. We will see how this simple, ‘Moorean’ observation tells us what to say about reference for proper names, two-dimensionalism, and the internalism–externalism debate. Throughout, the discussion will presume that we language users are natural parts of the natural world.