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PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE

CODE 65030
ACADEMIC YEAR 2022/2023
CREDITS
  • 9 cfu during the 3nd year of 8740 LINGUE E CULTURE MODERNE (L-11) - GENOVA
  • 6 cfu during the nd year of 8740 LINGUE E CULTURE MODERNE (L-11) - GENOVA
  • 9 cfu during the 2nd year of 8455 FILOSOFIA (L-5) - GENOVA
  • 9 cfu during the 2nd year of 9917 SCIENZE STORICHE (LM-84) - GENOVA
    		•
    SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR M-FIL/05
    TEACHING LOCATION
  • GENOVA
    		•
    SEMESTER 1° Semester
    TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB

    OVERVIEW

    The analytic philosophy of language is the study of the constitutive properties that make linguistic expressions the main tools we have at our disposal to describe reality and communicate information. The philosophers of language study the properties that make words have determinate meanings. The philosophers of language study these constitutive properties of meaning not from the etymological point of view but from the metaphysical one: that in which the meaning of a word consists.

    AIMS AND CONTENT

    LEARNING OUTCOMES

    The course aims to provide students with the basics of the philosophy of language. In particular, the teaching focuses on the notion of truth-conditional meaning, namely the idea that the meaning of a statement is given by its conditions of truth and the meaning of a word by its contribution to the truth conditions of the statements in which it occurs as a constituent part.

    AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

    At the end of the course students will be able to master the basics of the philosophy of language, in particular the basics of the true-conditional semantics with double index that is used to study the meaning of large fragments of natural languages. Students will also master the notions of reference and denotation, and the notion of direct reference, which are not only central to current debates in the philosophy of language, but are also fundamental conceptual tools used by analytical philosophers in other areas of research, from metaphysics to epistemology. Students will acquire the competence to start autonomous study of essays in philosophy of language and analytic philosophy.

    PREREQUISITES

    VERY IMPORTANT: The course presupposes the knowledge of logic. The course is strongly discouraged for students who do not attend classes.

    TEACHING METHODS

    Teaching mainly involves standard lectures. Compatibly with the time that will remain available, some hours can be dedicated to the reading and discussion of classic articles of philosophy of language.

     

    Teams code: 7vfaylx

    SYLLABUS/CONTENT

    Program
    Part 1
    Gottlob Frege and the origins of the analytical philosophy of language
    Part 2
    Key concepts of formal semantics
    Part 3
    Singular terms, reference and denotation
    Part 4
    Reference, necessity, a priori/a posteriori

     

    RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

    Vignolo, M., e Frixione, M., 2018. Filosofia del Linguaggio, Milano: Mondadori.

    Any in-depth articles will be decided together with the students during the lessons.

    TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

    Exam Board

    MASSIMILIANO VIGNOLO (President)

    FILIPPO DOMANESCHI

    VALERIA OTTONELLI (Substitute)

    FABIO PATRONE (Substitute)

    LESSONS

    LESSONS START

    27 September 2022

    Information on timetable, classroom, and Teams code will be published on aulaweb.

    Class schedule

    PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE

    EXAMS

    EXAM DESCRIPTION

    Students can choose a written test or an oral exam

    ASSESSMENT METHODS

    Students will be assessed on the basis of (i) knowledge of the contents covered during the course, (ii) ability to analyse and reconstruct philosophical arguments, and (iii) appropriateness in the use of philosophical language.

    Exam schedule

    Date Time Location Type Notes
    12/12/2022 11:00 GENOVA Compitino
    16/01/2023 11:00 GENOVA Compitino
    30/01/2023 11:00 GENOVA Compitino
    08/05/2023 11:00 GENOVA Compitino
    22/05/2023 11:00 GENOVA Compitino
    12/06/2023 11:00 GENOVA Compitino
    03/07/2023 11:00 GENOVA Compitino
    11/09/2023 11:00 GENOVA Compitino