OVERVIEW

The course provides an advanced exploration of the philosophy of language, aiming to address the main theoretical issues in the field. The topics will be examined through an interdisciplinary approach that involves linguistics, logic, psychology, and the neuroscience of language.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course addresses, from a philosophical and linguistic point of view, the relationship between verbal language and the human mind. The aim of the course is to introduce students to some of the central problems and topics of the philosophy of language such as, for example, the nature of linguistic contents and mental states, the relationship between thought and linguistic comprehension, the problem of reference and meaning of linguistic expressions and the relationship between our inferential abilities and verbal communication. These problems will be addressed by showing the connections with linguistics, logic, psychology and the neurosciences of language.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

tudents will become familiar with the concepts of meaning and communication. By the end of the course, they will be able to:

• Illustrate and analyze the main philosophical and linguistic theories on meaning and communication;

• Understand the experimental data related to the production and comprehension of language by the human mind and brain, and how these data inform and enrich philosophical and linguistic theories of language.

Further educational objectives:

• Develop social interaction skills based on collaboration, constructive communication, and dialogue;

• Gain independence in studying, critical analysis of primary literature, argumentative skills, and the ability to work in teams, coordinate, and negotiate.

PREREQUISITES

Teaching presupposes knowledge of the philosophy of language. The course is recommended for students who have taken the philosophy of language or language theory exam. Attendance is strongly recommended.

TEACHING METHODS

The course will alternate between lectures delivered by the instructor and presentations in class given by the students enrolled in the course.

Students are required to register on Aulaweb, where useful course materials will be uploaded.

For students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities (SLD):

Students with disabilities or SLD are reminded that in order to request exam accommodations, they must first upload the relevant certification on the University's website at the page servizionline.unige.it in the "Students" section. The documentation will be verified by the University’s Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and SLD (https://rubrica.unige.it/strutture/struttura/100111).

Subsequently, at least 10 days before the exam date, students should send an email to the instructor with whom they will take the exam, copying both the School’s Disability and SLD Officer (elisabetta.colagrossi@unige.it) and the Services Department mentioned above. The email should include:

• The name of the course

• The exam date

• The student's surname, first name, and matriculation number

• The compensatory tools and dispensatory measures considered functional and requested.

The Officer will confirm to the instructor that the student has the right to request accommodations and that these accommodations must be agreed upon with the instructor. The instructor will reply, indicating whether the requested accommodations can be used.

Requests must be sent at least 10 days before the exam date to give the instructor time to evaluate them. In particular, if conceptual maps are to be used during the exam (which must be much more concise than those used for study), failure to respect the deadline will not leave enough time to make any necessary changes.

For further information on requesting services and accommodations, please refer to the document:
Linee guida per la richiesta di servizi, di strumenti compensativi e/o di misure dispensative e di ausili specifici Maggio 2024.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course delves into one of the main areas of study in the philosophy of language: pragmatics, or the study of the relationship between language and context. The main topics in language pragmatics will be introduced, highlighting their connections with philosophy, psychology, and cognitive sciences. The course is structured in two parts:

General Part

Introduction to pragmatics and the concepts of meaning and communication. The main philosophical and linguistic theories related to the following topics will be analyzed:

• Implicatures: implicatures, figurative language

• Contextual dependence: deixis, theories of deixis, semantic/pragmatic distinction

• Presuppositions: presupposition triggers, presupposition projection, dynamic semantics

• Speech acts: illocution, classification of speech acts

• Conversation analysis and discourse analysis

• Experimental pragmatics

Monographic Part: Lying

We lie more often than we think: in love, in family, in friendships and work relationships, on social media, and even to ourselves. Yet, we condemn those who do so. Lying forces us to reflect on truth, credibility, ourselves, and others. But what exactly is a lie? Are there different types of lies? How do we distinguish lies from other forms of deception or manipulation? Why do we lie? And why do we often consider lying morally wrong? These questions will be analyzed through the main philosophical and linguistic theories, in light of the most recent experimental evidence from cognitive psychology and neuroscience. The goal is to provide a clear and accessible overview of the conceptual distinctions developed over more than two thousand years of reflection on the nature of lying.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Foreign or non-native students are encouraged to contact the instructor to receive the required reading materials.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy