This anthology is composed of articles derived from a conference, entitled "Themes from Kaplan", at Stanford University which discussed the work of David Kaplan, a leading contemporary philosopher of language. A variety of philosophers participated in the conference including Robert Adams, Roderick Chisholme, Nathan Salmon, and Scott Soames. Their papers treat a broad range of themes related to Kaplan's work: some address his work directly, others are independenttreatments of issues provoked by Kaplan's thought.

The book also contains Kaplan's own previously unpublished essay, "Demonstratives."This essay formed the basis of Kaplan's John Locke lectures at Oxford. The essay has been one of the most influential pieces in the philosophy of language over thelast twenty years.