Aims

By the end of this course, the student should be able to analyze logically certain French sentences so as to translate them into the language of contemporary logic. The student will also be able to compare this analysis with the traditional analysis employed in syllogism.

Main themes

To give the student an introduction to logic and the philosophy of language through a study of natural language. To bring out the logical structures embedded in natural language, both in the traditional and in the contemporary manner. To systematically present the logical notions that are often invoked in the study of philosophy (concept, judgment, syllogism, deduction, category, contradiction, etc.).

Content and teaching methods

The course opens with an examination of the traditional tripartite division of the study of language into grammar, logic, and rhetoric-or syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.

Following this, the course will define the nature of language and indicate some of its functions. As regards the nature of language, the course insists on the distinction between specific languages and language as such, as well as on the distinction between artificial and natural language. Various conceptions of the role of language will be presented: language as an analytical tool for thinking about reality; as a tool of communication; language as a type of action; "performatives" in speech act theory.

The central part of the course is devoted to the examination of the differences between grammatical and logico-philosophical analyses. This includes a presentation and a comparison of (onto)logical and grammatical categories, as well as of logical and grammatical structures.

The course ends by drawing a parallel between the traditional analysis, as we find it in the theory of syllogisms, and contemporary analysis.

Throughout the course, we shall devote ourselves to the logical analysis of sentences or short French texts and to the translation into French of discursive representations in "loglangue"

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Assessment: Oral exam with written preparation.

Supporting Material: Class notes.

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