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Seminar in the Philosophy of Language


Course Description

The original course materials dealing with such topics as formal and ordinary languages, meaning, reference, descriptions, truth, definition, analyticity, speech acts, and the uses of language.


Athena Title

SEM PHIL OF LANG


Prerequisite

Permission of department


Semester Course Offered

Offered fall


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Course Objectives

The course aims at developing logical and analytic skills and techniques facilitating clear thinking about complex issues. The students are expected to be able to construct and evaluate the major arguments for and against the positions on or approaches to the problems being studied, to lead class discussions, and to write research papers on topics arising from class discussions.


Topical Outline

This course is an advanced survey of some of the central issues in contemporary philosophy of language, such as: I. Formal and ordinary languages II. Meaning III. Truth IV. Analyticity V. Definition VI. Reference VII. Proper names and descriptions VIII. Ppropositional attitudes and belief reports IX. Ambiguity X. Metaphor XI. Symbolism XII. Speech acts