Bad Words: Philosophical Perspectives on Slurs

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Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press (2018)
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Abstract

What makes a word bad? On the one hand, slurs and other derogatory language appear to be meaningful - different slurs can seem to refer to different groups, for example. On the other hand, slurs can seem to be just an arbitrary tool for insulting or enabling harm. How is the meaning of a slur related to its practical uses?

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P410.I58.B33 2018

ISBN(s)

9780198758655   0198758650

DOI

10.1093/oso/9780198758655.001.0001

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Chapters

Pejoratives as Fiction.Christopher Hom & Robert May
Calling, Addressing, and Appropriation.  (pages 6-28)Luvell Anderson
A Dual Act Analysis of Slurs.  (pages 29-59)Elisabeth Camp
Loaded Words: On the Semantics and Pragmatics of Slurs.  (pages 60-76)K. Bach
Slurs, Dehumanization, and the Expression of Contempt.  (pages 77-107)Robin Jeshion
Pejorative Tone.  (pages 132-154)Ernie Lepore & Matthew Stone
How do Slurs Mean?  (pages 155-167)Mark Richard
Slurs and Obscenities.  (pages 168-192)Geoffrey K. Pullum
Nice Words for Nasty Things.  (pages 193-230)Laurence R. Horn

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David Sosa
University of Texas at Austin

Citations of this work

Stupefying.Michael Deigan - 2022 - Philosophers' Imprint 22 (1).
The social significance of slang.Alice Damirjian - 2025 - Mind and Language 40 (2):138-156.
Dehumanization: From Ethics to Metaphysics (and Back).Aleksy Tarasenko-Struc - 2025 - European Journal of Philosophy:1291-1307.
Slurring silences.A. G. Holdier - 2025 - Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 110 (2):497-525.

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