Teacher(s)

Verdée Peter;

Language

French

Main themes

This course offers an introduction to the philosophy of language and aims to provide an overview of the different aspects of language:

• its nature: difference between human, animal and artificial language, the innate or acquired status of linguistic ability, the question of the origin of language
• its relationship with reality: representation, expression, fiction, reference, truth
• its relationship with thought
• its relationship with action: speech acts

The fundamental concepts of the philosophy of language (i.e. reference, sense, meaning, truth, intentionality, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, ordinary/formal language, grammar) are introduced, explained and placed in their historical context.

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	Understanding of the different movements, concepts and issues of the philosophy of language from a historical perspective. Understanding of how the study of language falls into three groups: syntax, semantics and pragmatics. Ability to align the questions posed by contemporary philosophy of language with the key topics of the history of philosophy.

Content

The course begins with a historical introduction to the philosophy of language where major themes are introduced in their historical context. Then we will study the following texts:

1. Gottlob Frege, "Sense and reference"
2. W. V. O. Quine, "Le mythe de la signification "
3. Michael Dummett, "What do I know when I know a language?"
4. Peter Strawson, "Context and meaning"
5. David Kaplan, "Demonstratives. An essay on the semantics, logic, metaphysics and epistemology of demonstratives and other indexicals. "
6. John Searle, "What is a speech act? "
7. Selection of passages from the book "Philosophy of Language (and Mind)" written by François Recanati

Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

A few ex cathedra courses
Reading courses. Students prepare texts at home. A student presents the general structure of the text in 20 minutes and then discusses the subjects of the article in detail.

Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

January:

20% of the final grade: Active participation in class
80% of the final grade: An oral exam with a written preparation (which is organized one or a few days before the oral exam)

September:

20% of the final grade: a written assignment (a 2-page reflection on a central question)
80% of the final grade: An oral exam with a written preparation (which is organized one or a few days before the oral exam)

Bibliography

• Tous les textes et les slides seront disponibles sur Moodle

Teaching materials

• Tous les textes et les slides seront disponibles sur Moodle

Faculty or entity

EFIL