From Decision-Theoretic Pragmatics to Decision-Theoretic Semantics: A Retrospect and Prospects

Arthur Merin

We recall some motivation for a decision-theoretic treatment of meaning 
and go over fundamental principles.  Results are outlined with emphasis
on those which unaided common sense will not deliver more economically.
As is to be expected, the notion of relevance defined as change in 
expectations will continue to figure as a key theoretical term.
     A taxonomic proposal is made for demarcating semantics/pragmatics, 
and we assess its advantages and drawbacks.  Prospects in scientific 
discovery being more a matter of ethos and attendant disposition than
of prediction, we then reflect on the aesthetics of applying formal
tools to modelling human language.
     The detail of retrospective ground to be covered is in large parts 
accessible free of charge at http://www.semanticsarchive.net.  Should
you wish to look at any of it, perhaps to offer me comments or queries,
note that it might look ragged on screen, but does print out sharply.
If the fonts and spacing feel a bit tight for reading comfort, consider 
dedicating more paper and experiment with enlargement.