Phil 154: Philosophy of Language



Phil 154: Philosophy of Language

Syllabus

California State University at Sacramento

Fall 2006

MEETING TIMES: Monday and Wednesday, 12 – 1:15 pm, LIB 127

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Patti Nogales

CONTACT INFORMATION: pdn26@csus.edu, 278-6846

OFFICE: Mendocino Hall, 3014

OFFICE HOURS: Monday and Wednesday, 10:00-11:30 am

CATALOG DESCRIPTION

This course provides an introduction to the philosophy of language, including, but not limited to, traditional and contemporary theories of meaning.

TEXTBOOK

Required: Stainton, Robert J., Philosophical Perspectives on Language, Ontario, Canada: Broadview Press, 1996.

Recommended: Pinker, Steven, The Language Instinct, New York: Harper Perennial, 1994.

OTHER MATERIALS: Additional readings will be on reserve through the electronic library reserve program, E-RBR. To view or print out these readings you need to access the following link . To be able to do this you need to be a registered student and you need to get a PIN # from the Reserve Desk at the library (across the breezeway). You are expected to do the supplementary readings that are on reserve and may be quizzed and tested on the material covered in them.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS: If you have a documented disability (visible or invisible) and require accommodation or assistance with attendance, note taking, assignments, tests, etc. please see the instructor by Sept 16th so that arrangements can be made.

OBJECTIVES

In this class we will strive to accomplish the following objectives:

• To become familiar with issues and concepts in the philosophy of language and with contemporary theories of meaning and reference.

• To become familiar with seminal works in the philosophy of language.

• To develop skills in analyzing written arguments into premises and conclusions and then evaluating them.

• To develop skills in presenting an analytical argument.

• To develop skills in developing an analytical argument in a philosophical essay.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND EVALUATION METHODS

WEEKLY READINGS: Students are responsible for doing the readings, which are listed in square brackets under the topic title for each week. Most of the readings are from the selected textbook, but some of them are either accessible through my web page or through the Library Reserve Program, at . If you don’t have a computer you can use campus computer labs, but you need to get a PIN number and can get help from the librarian.

STUDY QUESTIONS: To help you process the material in the readings, I have created study questions for many of the readings. The study questions are available on my web page and can also be used to prepare for quizzes and the final exam.

LIBRARY RESOURCES: The library offers many resources that can facilitate your work in philosophy, including: a list of texts that explain how to write philosophy papers, a Database and Periodical Index page to facilitate research, access to relevant online encyclopedias and indexes, and lists of philosophical journals.

QUIZZES/HOMEWORKS: Quizzes and homework assignments will be used to test comprehension of the readings, lectures, and class presentations.

ARGUMENT STRUCTURE: You will be asked to construct an argument structure of a selected reading. An argument structure shows the structure of the concepts and arguments presented in the reading. You create the argument structure by carefully reading and rereading the text and identifying which statements give reasons to believe others, which main thesis the author is supporting, etc. In constructing an argument structure it is helpful to have the premises for any given conclusion indented from the left margin to reflect their status as a supporting claim. You will be able to find directions for making an argument structure and a sample grading sheet on my website.

GROUP PRESENTATIONS: A couple of weeks into the semester you will have the opportunity to choose a topic and to sign up for a class presentation, which will be conducted by students in groups of about three students. Class presentations give you an opportunity to research the topic of the week, and will draw on material from the reading, as well as from other sources. You should meet with your group and plan to make a presentation of about 30-40 minutes, with some time for questions from the class. (If the talk runs long you must come to the next class to answer questions on your presentation.)

ACADEMIC HONESTY: It is OK to work with other students on homework assignments, but each student must turn in their own results. If you cite a source, you need to document the source appropriately. Any cheating on a quiz, exam, or homework assignment will result in an F on that assignment. I also reserve the right to flunk the student on the spot. Here is the university policy on academic honesty:



MIDTERM ESSAY: For the midterm essay you will select from a list of 2 topics and write a 7-10 page essay.

FINAL EXAM: The final exam will contain two parts: (1) a multiple choice section and (2) a list of short answer essay questions (based on the Study Questions), from which you can select and write about 3. You will be allowed to bring in a one page “cheat sheet” with notes on both sides.

MAKEUP POLICY: If you need to miss a quiz for health or career reasons, and if you let me know in advance, you can make up the assignment. If those two conditions are not met I have no obligation to accept any assignment and will subtract points if I do accept them.

GRADING CALCULATIONS

Attendance and Participation …………… 5%

Presentation …………………………………… 25%

Quizzes/Homeworks…………………………... 20%

Essay …………………………………………… 25%

Final Exam …………………………………… 25%

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

INTRODUCTION:

Week 1: Introduction to the Philosophy of Language, Historical Background

[Stainton: Chapter 1, Introduction]

Mon, Sep 4 Labor Day Weekend, no class

Wed, Sep 6 Historical Background

Week 2: Introduction to the Study of Language

[Article on Spelke linked to my website]

Mon, Sep 11

Wed, Sep 13 Library/Database/Research Orientation

Week 3: Language Learning: Linguistics and Psycholinguistics

[Stainton: Chapter 2, Syntax]

Mon, Sep 18 Syntax, Semantics, and Pragmatics

Wed, Sep 20

Week 4: Philosophy of Language, Meaning: Direct Reference

Mon, Sep 25 [Stainton: Chapter 3, Direct Reference]

Three approaches to meaning, direct reference theories, Bertrand Russell on Descriptions

Wed, Sep 27

Week 5: Meaning: Mediated Reference

Mon, Oct 2 [Stainton: Chapter 4, Mediated Reference]

Introduction, Frege, Possible Worlds

• Quiz

Wed, Oct 4 Group Presentation #1: Pinker on Language

Week 6: Meaning and Truth: Truth Theoretic Semantics

Mon, Oct 9 [Stainton: Chapter 5, Truth Theoretic Semantics]

Truth and Meaning, Non-Declaratives and Truth

Historical Background: Tarski

Wed, Oct 11 Group Presentation #2: Verificationist Theory of Meaning

Week 7: The Idea Theory of Meaning

Mon, Oct 16 [Stainton: Chapter 6: The Idea Theory of Meaning

Mental Images, H.P. Grice

• Quiz

Wed, Oct 18 Group Presentation #3: Proper Names

Week 8: The Language of Thought

Mon, Oct 23 [Stainton: Chapter 7: The Language of Thought]

Mentalese and the Idea Theory of Meaning, An Alternative to LOT: Connectionism

Wed, Oct 25 Group Presentation #4: A Response to Pinker (Fodor)

Week 9: Knowledge Issues

Mon, Oct 30 [Stainton: Chapter 8, Knowledge Issues]

Innateness, Rules and Regularities, Radical Translation

Wed, Nov 1 Group Presentation #5: A Response to Quine’s Indeterminacy

Week 10: The Use Theory of Meaning

Mon, Nov 6 [Stainton, Chapter 9, The Use Theory of Meaning]

Meaning and Use, Indexicals, Strawson on Referring, Speech Act Theory, Quine and Meaning Nihilism

Speaker Meaning and sentence Meaning

Wed, Nov 8 Group Presentation #6: Late Wittgenstein

Week 11: Non-Literal and Indirect Language: Meaning vs. Use

Mon, Nov 13 [Stainton: Chapter 10, Non-Literal Uses]

Implicatures

Wed, Nov 15 Group Presentation #7: Speech Act Theory

Week 12: Indirect and NonLiteral Uses of Language: Meaning vs. Use

Mon, Nov 20 [Stainton: Chapter 10, Non-Literal Uses of Language]

Metaphor

Wed, Nov 22 The Indirect vs. the Figurative]

Week 13: Philosophy of Language and Philosophy of Mind

Mon, Nov 27 Group Presentation #8: Artificial Intelligence

Wed, Nov 29

• Essay due

Week 14: Language and Community

Mon, Dec 4 [Stainton: Chapter 11]

Wittgenstein on private language

Wed, Dec 6 Group Presentation #9: ?

Week 15: Wind Up and Review

Mon, Dec 11 [Stainton: Chapter 12]

Wed, Dec 13

Week 16: Final Exam Week

Fri, Dec 22 Time: 10:15-12:15

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