OVERVIEW

The course focuses on the underdeterminaation of meaning and context dependence.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to introduce students to the debate on the divide between semantics and pragmatics. In particular, the topic of contextual dependence and the phenomenon of underdetermination of meaning will be explored, starting from the Gricean theory that defends the autonomy of semantics and places contextual dependence on the agenda of pragmatics, to arrive at the theories that philosophers have developed as alternatives to the Gricean approach: contextualism, indessicalism, minimalism, and relativism.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course students will be able to master the main concepts that animate the debate between the philosophers of language on the demarcation between semantics and pragmatics. Students will acquire the necessary skills to face the independent study of essays on the philosophy of language and the study of topics that might be of interest for the writing of the degree thesis.

PREREQUISITES

The course presupposes the knowledge of the logic and the attendance of a basic course of Philosophy of Language.

TEACHING METHODS

The course includes a cycle of lectures followed by the reading and discussion of articles on contextual dependence and the underdetermination of meaning.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Program

Part 1

The semantics with double index: context of utterance and circumstance of evaluation

Part 2
Meaning, saying, and communicating
Part 3
Context Dependence, semantics and pragmatics: contextualism, indexicalism, minimalism, relativism
Part 4
Some objections against the Russellian theory of definite descriptions

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

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

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

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MASSIMILIANO VIGNOLO (President)

VALERIA OTTONELLI

MARCELLO FRIXIONE (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

20 February 2023

Class schedule

PHILOSOPHICAL SEMANTICS (LM)

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 analyze and reconstruct philosophical arguments, and (iii) appropriateness in the use of philosophical language.

Exam schedule