Knowledge How
Ascriptions of knowing how to do something in English involve infinitival embedded questions, such as “how to swim”. Previous chapters covered basic issues in the semantics of questions, as well as the meaning of PRO, the unpronounced element in such constructions. This chapter completes the task of giving an account of the meaning of ascriptions of knowing how, by supplying two remaining elements – the account of the meaning of infinitives in such constructions, and the proper treatment of the “mention-some/mention all” ambiguity associated with embedded question constructions. Combining this with an account of the ways of thinking relevant for such constructions yields a full account of the nature of states of knowing how, which is then brought to bear on the relationship between knowing how to do something, ability, and skilled action.
Keywords: Infinitival questions, modality, embedded questions, ability, skill
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