 |
 |
|
|
 |
Primary Literature
• [some primary readings for the course will be made available on-line; see Current Assignments web page]
• Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations (Coe bookstore)
• A. J. Ayer, Language Truth and Logic (Coe bookstore)Secondary Literature
• [on reserve in the Coe Library; see list on Links, Tools & Additional Readings web page]
How do the signs that make up a language allow us to communicate sensibly with one another? Is it because they symbolically signify objects or other stimuli in our physical environment? Is it because they signify ideas in each of our minds? Could it be as some have recently claimed that it is neither of these?These are some of the central questions in the area of "semantics" (or more generally, philosophy of language), which studies the nature of "meaning" and "reference" in linguistic systems. This field of study has emerged in the Twentieth Century to become one of the most fundamental concerns of philosophy, often taking pride of place over that of metaphysics and epistemology which held sway as "First Philosophy" in previous eras of Western philosophy.
Much of the important work on these issues has been done by philosophers within the Anglo-American tradition, many of whom are still alive and active. Most of the readings for this course will have been written within the last eighty to ninety years, and many only recently published. While some of these texts are among the most challenging that students will encounter as under-graduates, the issues that they take up are so captivating and so fundamental to our intellectual endeavors that the work pays for itself.
As an upper level seminar in philosophy, this course is not designed with the intent to simply "download" as much information as possible from instructor to student. Rather, the course will aim at an interactive engagement with the issues, and therefore will depend for its success on the degree of personal involvement on the part of the students. We will work through the readings for the course as a group (bringing to class our scintillating comments!! …our perceptive questions!! … our brilliant interpretations!!) based on our prior reading of them. Accordingly, students will be expected to attend class religiously and to have prepared the reading for each class religiously. A class participation grade will be assigned and will be weighted the same as an exam (one-fifth of the course grade). Class participation will be graded on the basis of student performance in three areas: atten-dance; preparation; the quality of in-class participation (including on-line discussion forums); and class presentation on student's chosen paper topic.Each student will also be required to complete three take-home essay exams. The exams will consist of a few questions which students will be expected to answer at length (approx. three pages per question). Each of these exams will be weighted one-fifth of the course grade.
Each student will be required to write one paper (approx. 8-10 pages). Students will choose their own unique topic from a selection provided by the instructor. These papers will be on an important figure and text in the philosophy of language that is not covered in our readings for class.
The final course grade is broken down as follows: 1/5 = class participation grade; 3/5 = three exams; 1/5 paper.
(This schedule is for planning purposes only. The actual day-to-day assignments will be given in-class and/or posted on the "Current Assignments" webpage.)Feb. 5 Tu Course Introduction: A general primer on semantic theory
Feb. 7 Th Theory 1: Ideational Theory (Locke)
Feb. 12 Tu Theory 2: Referential Theory (Mill)
Feb. 14 Th Theory 3: Sense Theory (Russell)
Feb. 19 Tu Theory 3: " (Russell/Wittgenstein)
Feb. 21 Th Theory 3: " (early Wittgenstein)
Feb. 26 Tu Theory 3: " (early Wittgenstein)
Feb 28 Th Consequences: Logical Positivism (Ayer)
March 5 Tu Consequences: "
March 7 Th Consequences: "EXAM
March 12 Tu Theory 4: Semiotics (Saussure)
March 14 Th Theory 4: "(Spring Break)
March 26 Tu Theory 5: Behaviorism (Ryle)
March 28 Th Theory 6: Use Theory (later Wittgenstein)
April 2 Tu Theory 6: "
April 4 Th Theory 6: "
April 9 Tu Theory 6: "EXAM
April 11 Th Consequences: Linguistic Wholism (Quine and Davidson)
April 16 Tu Consequences: "
April 18 Th Consequences: "
April 23 Tu Consequences: "
April 25 Th Theory 8: Referential Theory (II) (Putnam)
April 30 Tu Theory 8: "
May 2 Th Theory 9: Nativism (Fodor)
May 7 Tu Theory 9: "May 11 Sa (9:00 AM) FINAL EXAM