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In this paper, I discuss the importance of the classical sociological thinkers for the development of cultural sociology programs. Based on this, the paper problematizes the specific position of one direction of cultural sociology and its “strong program”, and in that context, re-actualizes the contribution of classical theorists in understanding the interference between the cultural structures with the material/utilitarian and the political/ideological structures of the social world. It is primarily based on the analysis of Durkheim’s and Weber’s place in the sphere of cultural sociology, and the need to supplement the cultural sociology program with theoretical understandings of these thinkers, but also with the thinkers of modernity in general. Therefore, the paper seeks to offer a picture of a broader contribution of the “classics” to the understanding of cultural sociology, as well as the need to reconstruct certain aspects related to the cultural sociology program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I will discuss what I consider to be the central conceptual and doctrinal matrices of the inferentialist approach to meaning. For this purpose, I will focus on the philosophical work of Robert Brandom who is considered to be the founder of inferentialistic semantics. Namely, Brandom has postulated in his works a fundamental requirement that should be in the center of every semantic theory: to make explicit what is implicit in the linguistic practices. Inferential relations, where different conceptual structures are also included, are for Brandom the starting point from which we should move to the semantic analyses. The central part of this paper relates to the explication of ideas about the inferential role of conceptual content: it is the articulation topos of semantic properties of linguistic practices. I want to show Brandom's idea which is related to the normative explanatory idiom that should enable this explication: for that purpose, I will explain his thesis that the wide range of inferential relations of the conceptual content should be understood as a discursive relationship that manifests itself through a network on what a single conceptual content is obliging us. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I discuss Putnam's concept of semantic externalism that emerged as a result of critical examination of traditional semantic schemes and their related research methods of meaning of the linguistic phenomena. By rejecting individualistic psychologisation of meaning, Putnam pointed to the role of language communities where individuals of communicative practices in different language games manifest the knowledge of language facilities usage thus verifying the correct methods of the usage. This approach led Putnam to the idea of division of linguistic labor and its associated concepts of stereotypes that are normative patterns of semantic procedures and that show ways in which the social environment should be treated in relation to the semantic questions. In this paper, I want to analyse the above mentioned schemes that have made Putnam's project the basis for a different understanding of the semantic topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on relation of biblical allegory Prodigal son and Rilke's usage of it in his only novel The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge. I am concerned with specificity of allegory and different roles which are assigned to it. Reader aware of complexity of allegory as trope will also give attention to it in Rilke's novel. Two main roles of allegory used in Notebooks which author wishes to point out are: (i) substantially-explaining one, and, (ii) methodical. Substantial role can be recognized in the plot which has been changed in interesting and surprising manner, while the methodical one can be discovered in changing conventional way of understanding the allegory, in the ambiguity and in its incompleteness. Associated with those two roles, Rilke also wishes to approve that even such complex trope such is allegory can have its disadvantages. He is revealing the limits of language and the limits of art in general, but also showing the possibility of reasoning through the complex mode of allegory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Russell's analysis of language in the relation with its theory of knowledge and ontology is discussed in this work. The theory of definite descriptions presents the Russell's way of solving philosophical problems using language analysis. By reconstructing logical form of an expression Russell presents how we can be mistaken, if guided by grammar. At the same time, he demonstrates forcing all assertions into pre-determined (subject - predicate) schema as limited act of traditional logic. Attitudes expressed in essay On Denoting are considered related to Russell's view in The Principles of Mathematics where the questions of denotation of definite descriptions are solved in the way similar to Frege's. In the essay, Russell explicates his theory, considering Frege's theory of meaning. That's the reason why this work presents Russell's understanding of distinction denotation - meaning related to Frege's distinction reference - sense. The last part of this work shows how distinction between proper names and definite descriptions has to be considered in the relation with Russell's epistemological views, especially those related to difference between knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]