Th 503 Chapter 6

1. Chapter SixChapter Six
““The Semanitical Precondition”The Semanitical Precondition”
PowerPoint Prepared by Dr. Mark E. HardgrovePowerPoint Prepared by Dr. Mark E. Hardgrove
Systematic Theology ISystematic Theology I
Norman GeislerNorman Geisler

2. MEANINGMEANING
The semantical precondition isThe semantical precondition is
the question of meaning.the question of meaning.

3. MEANINGMEANING
Conventionalism is a theory of meaning,Conventionalism is a theory of meaning,
semantics, (the theory of meaning) thatsemantics, (the theory of meaning) that
says that there is no objective meaning,says that there is no objective meaning,
that all meaning is relative, all meaning isthat all meaning is relative, all meaning is
culturally conditioned, and therefore thereculturally conditioned, and therefore there
is no objective meaning.is no objective meaning.

4. MeaningMeaning
The Three Views on MeaningThe Three Views on Meaning
EssentialismEssentialism was the ancient view of Plato andwas the ancient view of Plato and
Aristotle, and Aquinas and Anselm. It says thatAristotle, and Aquinas and Anselm. It says that
there is an essential relationship between ourthere is an essential relationship between our
language and eternal objective forms.language and eternal objective forms.

5. MeaningMeaning
ConventionalismConventionalism argues that there are noargues that there are no
objective forms, there’s no objectiveobjective forms, there’s no objective
meaning, all meaning is relative andmeaning, all meaning is relative and
subjective.subjective.

6. MeaningMeaning
RealismRealism is between those two extremes.is between those two extremes.
Realism says there is a subjective meaning,Realism says there is a subjective meaning,
there are no objective forms outside of God,there are no objective forms outside of God,
and we don’t have a one to oneand we don’t have a one to one
correspondence between our minds andcorrespondence between our minds and
God, but we have an adequateGod, but we have an adequate
correspondence.correspondence.

7. MeaningMeaning
EssentialismEssentialism,, also called naturalism,also called naturalism,
maintains that there is an essentialmaintains that there is an essential
correspondence between the words wecorrespondence between the words we
say and what they mean.say and what they mean.

8. MeaningMeaning
ConventionalismConventionalism a position held bya position held by
Ludwig Wittgenstein, argues that there is aLudwig Wittgenstein, argues that there is a
family of meaning, but no exactfamily of meaning, but no exact
correspondence between language andcorrespondence between language and
meaning.meaning.

9. MeaningMeaning
Three possible ways that language has meaning:Three possible ways that language has meaning:
Univocal—(Plato): Language is exactly the sameUnivocal—(Plato): Language is exactly the same
as the meaning.as the meaning.
Equivocal—(Sausssure, Wittgenstein) :TheEquivocal—(Sausssure, Wittgenstein) :The
language is can have two or more ambiguouslanguage is can have two or more ambiguous
meanings.meanings.
Analogical—(Thomas Aquinas) The language isAnalogical—(Thomas Aquinas) The language is
similar or analogous to meaning.similar or analogous to meaning.

10. MeaningMeaning
What are the implications for us ifWhat are the implications for us if
the conventionalist view is correct?the conventionalist view is correct?

11. MeaningMeaning
According to Geisler,According to Geisler,
What is the smallest unity ofWhat is the smallest unity of
meaning that does not is themeaning that does not is the
sentence (p.79).sentence (p.79).

12. MeaningMeaning
Critique of Conventionalism’s Theory of Meaning:Critique of Conventionalism’s Theory of Meaning:
1.1.It is self-defeatingIt is self-defeating
2.2.Universal statements would not translateUniversal statements would not translate
3.3.There would be no universal truths in anyThere would be no universal truths in any
language.language.
4.4.We would not know any truth independent ofWe would not know any truth independent of
and/or prior to knowing the conventions of thatand/or prior to knowing the conventions of that
truth in that language.truth in that language.

13. MeaningMeaning
5.5. The Laws of logic are not based on humanThe Laws of logic are not based on human
conventions, they are true apart from linguisticconventions, they are true apart from linguistic
conventions.conventions.
6.6. Confuses the immediate source of meaning with itsConfuses the immediate source of meaning with its
ultimate grounds.ultimate grounds.
7.7. No meaning would be possible if conventionalism isNo meaning would be possible if conventionalism is
correct.correct.
8.8. It would be impossible adjudicate conflict.It would be impossible adjudicate conflict.
9.9. Conventionalism always involves a circular argument.Conventionalism always involves a circular argument.
10.10. In conventionalism everything is relative.In conventionalism everything is relative.
11.11. No descriptive knowledge of God is possibleNo descriptive knowledge of God is possible

14. MeaningMeaning
REALISMREALISM
Realism contends that meaning is objective, evenRealism contends that meaning is objective, even
though symbols are culturally relative, forethough symbols are culturally relative, fore
meaning transcends our symbols and linguisticmeaning transcends our symbols and linguistic
means of expressing it.means of expressing it.

15. MeaningMeaning
• A Framework for Understanding the Meaning ofA Framework for Understanding the Meaning of
MeaningMeaning
• EfficientEfficient causecause—that by which something comes to be;—that by which something comes to be;
• FinalFinal causecause—that for which something comes to be;—that for which something comes to be;
• FormalFormal causecause—that of which something comes to be;—that of which something comes to be;
• MaterialMaterial causecause—that out of which something comes to—that out of which something comes to
be;be;
• ExemplarExemplar causecause—that after which something comes to—that after which something comes to
be;be;
• InstrumentalInstrumental causecause—that through which something—that through which something
comes to be.comes to be.

16. MeaningMeaning
Applying the six causes to the meaning of a written textApplying the six causes to the meaning of a written text
• TheThe writerwriter is theis the efficientefficient cause of the meaning of a text.cause of the meaning of a text.
• TheThe writer’s purposewriter’s purpose is theis the finalfinal cause of its meaning.cause of its meaning.
• TheThe writingwriting is theis the formalformal cause of its meaning.cause of its meaning.
• TheThe wordswords are theare the materialmaterial cause of its meaning.cause of its meaning.
• TheThe writer’s ideaswriter’s ideas are theare the exemplarexemplar cause of itscause of its
meaning.meaning.
• TheThe laws of thoughtlaws of thought are theare the instrumentalinstrumental cause of itscause of its
meaning.meaning.

17. MeaningMeaning
Where is the “meaning” of a text found?Where is the “meaning” of a text found?
Verbal meaning is found in the very structure andVerbal meaning is found in the very structure and
grammar of the sentences, in the literary text itselfgrammar of the sentences, in the literary text itself
(formal cause). Meaning is not found in the(formal cause). Meaning is not found in the
individual words (material cause).individual words (material cause).

18. MeaningMeaning
Geisler argues:Geisler argues:
Words in themselves have no actual meaning;Words in themselves have no actual meaning;
they have only potential meaning. Words havethey have only potential meaning. Words have
usage in a sentence, which is the smallest unity ofusage in a sentence, which is the smallest unity of
meaning. The locus of all meaning then is found inmeaning. The locus of all meaning then is found in
the text. All textual meaning is in the text. Even athe text. All textual meaning is in the text. Even a
one word sentence such as “Go.” Implies “Youone word sentence such as “Go.” Implies “You
go.”go.”

19. MeaningMeaning
The implications for God’s Revelation:The implications for God’s Revelation:
The meaning of God’s revelation, whether inThe meaning of God’s revelation, whether in
Scripture or nature, is found in an objectiveScripture or nature, is found in an objective
expression of the meaner. Thus while theexpression of the meaner. Thus while the sensussensus
unumunum view is correct when it affirms only oneview is correct when it affirms only one
meaning to a text, there is, however, ameaning to a text, there is, however, a sensussensus
pleniorplenior in terms of implications and applications.in terms of implications and applications.

20. MeaningMeaning
From a realist perspective, God does notFrom a realist perspective, God does not
affirm any more meaning in the text than theaffirm any more meaning in the text than the
human author does, for whatever the Biblehuman author does, for whatever the Bible
says, God says; whatever the Bible affirmssays, God says; whatever the Bible affirms
is true because whatever God affirms isis true because whatever God affirms is
true.true.

21. MeaningMeaning
Geisler insists thatGeisler insists that
The objectivity of truth thatThe objectivity of truth that
Christianity embraces is based on theChristianity embraces is based on the
premise that meaning is objective.premise that meaning is objective.