Kant and the Platypus: Essays on Language and Cognition by Umberto Eco, Alastair McEwen

Umberto Eco's Kant and the Platypus: Essays on Language and Cognition is a collection of essays exploring the ways in which language and cognition shape our understanding of reality. In the book, Eco draws upon the work of Immanuel Kant, the prolific 18th century German philosopher, to examine some of the most important questions of our time, such as the nature of truth, how our minds make sense of the world, and how language shapes our thoughts and actions.

In the first essay, Eco combines theories from Kant, Wittgenstein and Chomsky on language to argue that language contains a complex network of variables, which interact in ways that often make it possible for us to say things in more than one way. He shows how language both reflects and shapes the way we think about the world and often helps us form beliefs about reality that might not have immediate rational basis. He further likens language to the ‘form’ of a Platypus, a curious creature with attributes from several different animal categories, which is difficult to describe without reference to other animals. In this analogy, Eco connects Kantian philosophy and Wittgenstein's ‘language games’ to Chomsky's linguistics, showing how language is a product of both body and culture.

The second essay is an exploration of the nature of truth. Eco distinguishes between two kinds of truth – ‘real’ truth, which is objective and absolute, and ‘conventional’ truth, which is socially constructed. He suggests that language is a major factor in determining which truths we accept as real and valid, with some forms of truth being accepted more widely than others. From this, he concludes that language shapes the way we see the world, since our choice of language determines which ‘truths’ we recognise as true.

The third essay looks at the role of cognition in our understanding of the world. Drawing on the tradition of Kantian rationalism, Eco argues that our understanding of the world is based on the ways we are conditioned by language, culture, and physical environment. He suggests that our concepts, as a result of our experiences and the language we use, have an important role in determining our beliefs about the world.

The final essay in Kant and the Platypus deals with the relationship between language and communication. Here, Eco looks at the ways in which language can be a barrier to effective, meaningful communication, and suggests ways of overcoming this barrier. He argues that embracing the idea of ‘rift’ in communication – accepting that there may be differences between the way we understand a conversation and the way in which someone else perceives it – is key to successful communication.

Kant and the Platypus: Essays on Language and Cognition is an important and timely read. As the world increasingly turns to digital technology, technology-driven language and ever-changing modes of communication, Eco’s work offers an insightful reflection on language, cognition and truth. By drawing on the philosophy of Immanuel Kant and referencing some of the most influential thinkers of our time, Eco’s book is essential reading for anyone interested in language, cognition, and communication.