Communication, dialogue and philosophy

Abstract

Anyone acquainted with Peter Serracino Inglott’s numerous philosophical interests would certainly know of the importance he attributed to language as the central and defining feature of humanity. His views on language can be found in two texts, namely, Peopled Silence (1995) and Beginning Philosophy (1987). Peopled Silence is structured as a textbook and it provides a systematic elaboration of the various aspects studied in the philosophy of language (syntax, semantics, pragmatics and poetics), while Beginning Philosophy is, strictly speaking, not about the philosophy of language but provides a philosophical methodology. This text did not receive much attention at the time of its publication, with the notable exception of Mario Vella’s critical response, Reflections in a Canvas Bag (1989).