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How to Do Things with Words

From Slow Like Wiki

Lecture I

  • There are sentences where I am not describing what I am doing, nor stating that I am doing it, but simply doing something. These kinds of utterances are neither true nor false.
  • I propose to call it a performative sentence or utterance or simply a "performative"
  • Many performatives are contractual ("I bet") or declaratory ("I declare war") utterances.

Lecture II

Lecture III

Lecture IV

Lecture V

Lecture VI

Lecture VII

Lecture VIII

Lecture IX

Lecture X

Lecture XI

Lecture XII