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The Search for the Perfect Language - Making of Europe

Umberto Eco

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The Search for the Perfect Language - Making of Europe

by Umberto Eco
Save up to 13%
The Search for the Perfect Language - Making of Europe
The Search for the Perfect Language - Making of Europe

Historical journey through Europe's linguistic beliefs.

If you're intrigued by how language shapes consciousness and history, Umberto Eco's "The Search for the Perfect Language" could be a fascinating read for you. Eco explores the centuries-old quest for a pristine, universal language, delving into cultural, philosophical, and theological desires that drove this pursuit. His engaging narrative will satiate your intellectual curiosity, weaving together ideas that have influenced European thought and revealing language's profound impact on identity and power.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.
Sale

The Search for the Perfect Language - Making of Europe

by Umberto Eco
Save up to 13%
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9780631205104
Author: Umberto Eco
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Date of Publication: 1997-07-15
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: History, Philosophy
Related Topics: European History, History
Goodreads rating: 3.96
(rated by 786 readers)

Description

The idea that there once existed a language which perfectly and unambiguously expressed the essence of all possible things and concepts has occupied the minds of philosophers, theologians, mystics and others for at least two millennia. This is an investigation into the history of that idea and of its profound influence on European thought, culture and history. From the early Dark Ages to the Renaissance, it was widely believed that the language spoken in the Garden of Eden was just such a language, and that all current languages were its decadent descendants from the catastrophe of the Fall and at Babel. The recovery of that language would, for theologians, express the nature of divinity, for cabbalists allow access to hidden knowledge and power, and for philosophers reveal the nature of truth. Versions of these ideas remained current in the Enlightenment and have recently received fresh impetus in attempts to create a natural language for artificial intelligence. The story that Umberto Eco tells ranges widely from the writings of Augustine, Dante, Descartes, and Rousseau, arcane treatises on cabbalism and magic, to the history of the study of language and its origins. He demonstrates the intimate relation between language and identity and describes, for example, how and why the Irish, English, Germans, and Swedes - one of whom presented God talking in Swedish to Adam, who replied in Danish, while the serpent tempted Eve in French - have
 

Historical journey through Europe's linguistic beliefs.

If you're intrigued by how language shapes consciousness and history, Umberto Eco's "The Search for the Perfect Language" could be a fascinating read for you. Eco explores the centuries-old quest for a pristine, universal language, delving into cultural, philosophical, and theological desires that drove this pursuit. His engaging narrative will satiate your intellectual curiosity, weaving together ideas that have influenced European thought and revealing language's profound impact on identity and power.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

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