How to Do Things with Words

In this groundbreaking book, an acclaimed English philosopher of language discusses the performative nature of words.

In this seminal series of lectures by the noted British philosopher, J.L. Austin explores the profound ways in which language is not just a vehicle for conveying information but also a tool for performing actions. He introduces the concept of the performative utterance -- later called a speech-act -- which are utterances that not only convey meaning but also have the power to...