Abstract
In a recent paper, "Literary Theory and Its Discontents," John R. Searle puts forward eight "fundamental linguistic principles" LTD, 639) by which he seeks to correct errors that he, rightly or wrongly, perceives to be common in certain forms of literary theory - including, for Searle, "textual criticism" (LTD, 648), if not "literary criticism" (LTD, 637). Since we are professionally involved in both literary theory and textual criticism, we thought we might consider his eight principles and see whether they hold as such and what uses, if any, they may have for our profession.