Abstract

Conventions play a large part in our lives. Our mode of dress, manner of eating, and linguistic performances, for example, are all governed by conventions. In Parts A and B of the thesis, a theory of convention is provided. In Part C the primary concern is with the question of the conventionality of speech acts. ;Part C includes a discussion of the convention to truth-tell, and an attempt to develop a theory of assertion taking H. P. Grice's account of speaker-meaning as a starting point. ;The theory of convention put forward in Parts A and B arises out of a detailed treatment of David Lewis' book entitled, Convention. Lewis' theory analyses conventions in terms of preferences and expectations. For example, I drive on the left because I prefer to do so, given others do so,and I expect others to do so. In Parts A and B it is argued that: Lewis' preference structures need replacement. The notion of a collective end needs to be introduced. Convention followers' expectations depend on their having acquired "standing procedures" to conform. An important characteristic of such procedures is that if an agent A, has a standing procedure to X, then there is a presumption in favour of A's X-ing