Kenneth Allen Taylor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kenneth Allen Taylor
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| Born | November 4, 1954 Sandusky, Ohio, U.S.
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| Died | (aged 65) Los Altos, California, U.S.
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| Education |
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| Era | 20th-century philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy |
| School | Analytic philosophy |
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Main interests
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Philosophy of language, philosophy of mind |
Kenneth Allen Taylor (November 4, 1954 – December 2, 2019) was an American philosopher. He was known for his work in understanding language and the mind. He also co-hosted a popular radio show called Philosophy Talk with John Perry.
Contents
Kenneth Taylor's Life and Learning
Kenneth Taylor studied at the University of Notre Dame. He earned his first degree there in 1977. Later, he went to the University of Chicago. In 1984, he received his Ph.D., which is a high-level degree. His main project there was his dissertation, guided by Leonard Linsky.
Teaching and Leadership
Before joining Stanford University, Taylor taught at several other universities. These included Rutgers University and the University of Maryland. He also taught at Wesleyan University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Middlebury College.
At Stanford University, Kenneth Taylor became the head of the philosophy department. He held this important role from 2001 to 2009. He passed away on December 2, 2019, at the age of 65.
Exploring Ideas: Kenneth Taylor's Philosophy
Kenneth Taylor was an expert in two main areas of philosophy. These were the philosophy of language and the philosophy of mind.
Philosophy of Language
The philosophy of language looks at how language works. It asks questions like:
- How do words get their meaning?
- How do we use language to talk about the world?
- What does it mean to say something is true or false?
Taylor was very interested in how we understand meaning and how words refer to things.
Philosophy of Mind
The philosophy of mind explores how our minds work. It asks questions like:
- What is consciousness?
- How do our thoughts and feelings connect to our brains?
- What does it mean to have beliefs or desires?
Taylor explored ideas about how our minds connect with the world around us.
Books and Articles
Kenneth Taylor wrote many articles for important philosophy journals. He also wrote three books:
- Truth and Meaning: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Language
- Reference and the Rational Mind
- Meaning Diminished: Toward Metaphysically Modest Semantics
These books helped others understand his ideas about language and the mind.
See also
- American philosophy
- List of American philosophers
