John R. Searle

John R. Searle is a philosopher known for his work in language and mind, particularly pragmatics, which studies how context influences meaning in communication. He emphasized that understanding language involves not just words but also intentions and social context. Searle is famous for his "speech act theory," which categorizes how we use language to perform actions, such as making promises or requests. He argued that meaning is partly shaped by what speakers intend to convey and how listeners interpret those intentions within specific situations, highlighting the complexity of human communication.