Background
Naess, Arne Dekke was born on January 27, 1912 in Oslo, Norway.
Historian of philosophy Philosophical generalist
Naess, Arne Dekke was born on January 27, 1912 in Oslo, Norway.
University of Oslo, Mag. Art. m Philosophy (with Astronomy and Mathematics). 1933; PhD in Philosophy, 1936.
Studied in Paris 1931, in Vienna, 1934-1935, and at the University California, Berkeley, 1938-1939.
1939-1970, Professor of PhilosophyUniversity of Oslo.
Naess’s early work although quite distinctive in several respects, is similar in spirit to that of leading logical positivists. He developed a radically empiricist account of semantics, encompassln8 empirically satisfactory defintions of such semantic concepts as ‘synonymity’, ‘ambiguity’, Preciseness’ and 'definiteness of intention’. Not only are semante theories empirically testable. When semnatic terms have gained widespread, Naess thinks it makes sense to test by questionnaire how these terms are in fact used by °rdinary speakers. The core idea is that language ls Primarily a vehicle for communication. Hence semantics is to be viewed as a theory of interpretation. Since conceptual schemes are mostly expressed by linguistic means, the theory of preciseness and interpretation has an immediate bearing °n the possibility of deciding between or even Securing intercommunicability across, competing 'vorldviews. Naess strives hard to avoid relativism. 0° the other hand, he defends, in one major work, ll*e conceptual coherence and pyschological Possibility of Pyrrhonian scepticism. Naess’s early work in ethics addressed founda- *'°nal issues, in an empiricist vein. In later years, 9e has concentrated on philosophical and. broadly speaking, political aspects of peace and environmental issues. Indeed, he has for long been a prominent participant in the Norwegian people’s movement relating to the latter. Naess has been hugely important for establishing in Norway a modem, institutionalized philosophical tradition.