"Word and Object" (book)

"Word and Object" is a philosophical work by Willard Van Orman Quine published in 1960. It explores the relationship between language, meaning, and our understanding of the world. Quine argues against the idea that words have fixed meanings, suggesting instead that meaning is flexible and shaped by context. He challenges traditional views on how we categorize objects and concepts, advocating for a more holistic approach to knowledge. Quine's ideas emphasize that our understanding is interconnected, influencing fields such as linguistics, philosophy, and cognitive science by highlighting the complexities of communication and interpretation.