Making Sense - by Paul Thom (Paperback)

About the Book

Critics and artists claim the title of 'interpreter' for themselves. Scientists do not so readily describe themselves in this way. But is the formulation of explanatory hypotheses in science so different from the interpretive work of artists? Making Sense recognizes that whene...

Book Synopsis

Critics and artists (including performing artists) claim the title of 'interpreter' for themselves. Scientists do not so readily describe themselves in this way. But is the formulation of explanatory hypotheses in science so different from the interpretive work of artists? Making Sense recognizes that whenever interpretation occurs there may be a plurality of competing successful interpretations. It offers a philosophical theory that views the interpretive enterprise as an attempt to make sense of things by representing them in ways that can be accommodated within various significance-systems.

Review Quotes

"Thom's framework is important and along the right lines. Anyone interested in interpretation should give careful consideration to these views." --British Journal of Aesthetics

"This is a very lucid and precise text, which is richly textured with illuminating and intriguing discussions of examples from painting, theatre, music, opera and the sciences. I would recommend it as a text for undergraduate courses on Interpretation -and I would have all teachers read chapter 3!>" --Jennifer A. McMahon, Australasian Journal of Philosophy

"This book is suitable for those with an interest in the performing arts and are looking for a general theory that provides a conceptual framework by which to assess different performative interpretations of a piece of work." --Philosophy in Review

"This is a very lucid and precise text, which is richly textured with illuminating and intriguing discussions of examples from painting, theatre, music, opera and the sciences. I would recommend it as a text for undergraduate courses on Interpretation -and I would have all teachers read chapter 3!" --Jennifer A. McMahon, Australasian Journal of Philosophy

About the Author

Paul Thom is dean of arts at Australian National University.