An Introduction to the Problem of Meaning and Reference: From Frege to Grice

About two years ago, while I was engaged with various areas of philosophy, I unexpectedly encountered the philosophy of language. This encounter led me to immerse myself deeply in its foundational problems. Throughout this process, I primarily worked with original texts, but I did not limit myself to them; I also engaged carefully with secondary sources. While reading secondary literature, I came to a striking realization: many introductory books on the philosophy of language did not truly serve as introductions. In particular, works by Michael Morris and Scott Soamesoften read at the introductory or fundamental leveldid not, in my view, adequately guide new readers into the subject. On the other hand, the most accessible book I came across was Colin McGinns. Yet, despite its simplicity, it occasionally overwhelmed the reader with scattered or unnecessary material. I do not question the intellectual quality of these works. Rather, I wish to emphasize that they do not fully succeed in fulfilling their introductory aims. Seeing this gap, I chose not to write a general introduction to the philosophy of language. Instead, I decided to focus on a single, central problem and explore it in depth.