Logic, Language & Politics

Teacher(s)

Pirlot Pauline (compensates Reuchamps Min); Reuchamps Min; Verdée Peter;

Language

English

Main themes

The topics approaches in this class will include:
- A quick overview of classical first order logic
- A quick overview of the standard philosophical analysis of language: syntax, semantics and pragmatics; reference, meaning and use.
- A selection of topics in modal logics for agent interaction: deontic logic, action logic and epistemic logic.
- A selection of topics in speech act theory.
- An analysis of how language operates in politics, e.g. the definition of rules of language use and how politicians seek to influence the use of language; the role of ' different ' language(s) in political discussions and negotiations; the role of linguistic devices (such as deictic) and in particular metaphors in the formation of political opinions; the analysis of political discourse via linguistic and socio-linguistic approaches.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	The skills acquired in this class will include: - Mastering the basic concepts of logics and the key ideas in the contemporary philosophy of language - Be able to understand the methods in discourse analysis - Get some basic understanding of socio-linguistics - Get an understanding of the role and importance of language in politics - Be able to apply these concepts and methods to political objects - Be able to understand how specific concepts from applied logic and philosophy of language can be used to better understand interactions between political actors.

Content

The course will proceed as follows.
A) During the first half of the course we explore the theory behind some crucial concepts needed when analyzing language in politics

1. Sociolinguistics
   
2. Rhetorics
   
3. Discourse analysis
   
4. Semantics and truth
   
5. Pragmatics and speech acts
   
6. Propositional logic and fallacies
   

B) A written exam will take place in the middle of the quadrimester to test the students’ understanding of the theoretical concepts
C) The second half f the course is dedicated to the analysis of textual material, guided by the students (in group).
In practice, students will be involved from the first week of class. Student participation includes:

• Each student proposes a political speech/text that they wish to analyze;
• Students vote to select four political speeches/texts that will be analyzed in the course
• From the selected texts, groups of students choose a text to be analyzed as a group
• Each student individually submits a written work on the analyzed texts

Teaching methods

The course is party theoretical (first half of the semester), partly practical (second half of the semester). Students will apply theoretical approaches and concepts, and be fully involved in the process of the course. They will produce an individual paper and oral presetations in group. Students themselves will produce the learning dynamic for a part of the course. 

Evaluation methods

Grade in June:

• 10/20 of the final grade: theoretical exam (written) during the term
• 4/20 of the final grade: group oral presentation (each group studies a text with a chosen focus)
• 6/20 of the final mark: individual written work

Grade in September: students can choose to keep their partial grades obtained in June

• 10/20 of the final mark: a theoretical exam (written)
• 10/20 of the final mark: an individual written work

Other information

Depending on the evolution of sanitary conditions and consequently of the sanitary code, the teaching and evaluation mode will possibly change, in whole or in part, to remote mode via one or several computer tools provided by the University.  Students enrolled in the course will be informed by e-mail.

Faculty or entity

ESPO