This series will include monographs and collections of studies devoted
to the investigation and exploration of knowledge, information and
data-processing systems of all kinds, no matter whether human, (other)
animal or machine. Its scope is intended to span the full range of
interests from classical problems in the philosophy of mind and phi-
losophical psychology through issues in cognitive psychology and socio-
biology (concerning the mental capabilities of other species) to ideas
related to artificial intelligence and computer science. While primary
emphasis will be placed upon theoretical, conceptual and epistemologi-
cal aspects of these problems and domains, empirical, experimental and
methodological studies will also appear from time to time. Among the
most challenging and difficult projects within the scope of artificial
intelligence is the development and implementation of com- puter
programs suitable for processing natural language. Our purpose in
compiling the present volume has been to contribute to the foundations
of this enterprise by bringing together classic papers devoted to
crucial problems involved in understanding natural language, which range
from issues of formal syntax and logical form to those of
possible-worlds and situation semantics. The book begins with a
comprehensive introduc- tion composed by Jack Kulas, the senior editor
of this work, which pro- vides a systematic orientation to this complex
field, and ends with a selected bibliography intended to promote further
research. If our efforts assist others in dealing with these problems,
they will have been worthwhile. J. H. F.
