Analytic Philosophy  (Paperback, Kalyan Sengupta)

The book "Analytic Philosophy" offers a concise yet comprehensive exploration of analytic philosophy's journey from its early 20th-century roots to its present-day relevance. The book begins with Gottlob Frege's pioneering work on reducing mathematics to logic and follows the development of logical positivism and its emphasis on rigorous philosophical analysis. Key figures like Bertrand Russell and Ludwig Wittgenstein sought to create an ideal language for philosophy, free from ordinary language ambiguities. The narrative then transitions to the mid-20th century, where post-positivist philosophers expanded analysis to include broader structures of language and thought. Contemporary debates are addressed, including W.V.O. Quine's critiques of analytical methods and the resurgence of metaphysical theorizing by philosophers like David Lewis and David Armstrong. The book also highlights the development of modal logic by Saul Kripke and the revival of aesthetics in analytic philosophy through rigorous analyses by scholars such as Guy Sircello. Analytic Philosophy is an essential guide for understanding the history, key figures, and enduring significance of this influential philosophical tradition.