Philosophy of Language
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The aim of teaching is to provide students with knowledge about the topics and problems which characterize the contemporary debate in the philosophy of language and its recent theoretical development. The knowledge and the competences acquired are useful for activities centred on logical reasoning, activities of communication, and editorial activities.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
- Knowledge of some contemporary debates in the philosophy of language.
- Basic knowledge of some notions of semantics, pragmatics, metaphysics, and logics with regard to the philosophy of language.
Ability to Apply Knowledge and Understanding
- Capacity of identify in a rigorous and critical way some problems which spark philosophical debate on language and mind.
- Capacity to analyze some arguments in the philosophy of language and to present the objections which have been raised in their context, also with regard to arguments in the philosophy of mind.
- Capacity of reconstructing a philosophical debate about language, delineating affinities and differences among various theoretical positions, some of them relevant in the context of the philosophy of mind.
- Knowledge of some contemporary debates in the philosophy of language.
- Basic knowledge of some notions of semantics, pragmatics, metaphysics, and logics with regard to the philosophy of language.
Ability to Apply Knowledge and Understanding
- Capacity of identify in a rigorous and critical way some problems which spark philosophical debate on language and mind.
- Capacity to analyze some arguments in the philosophy of language and to present the objections which have been raised in their context, also with regard to arguments in the philosophy of mind.
- Capacity of reconstructing a philosophical debate about language, delineating affinities and differences among various theoretical positions, some of them relevant in the context of the philosophy of mind.
Lesson period: Activity scheduled over several sessions (see Course syllabus and organization section for more detailed information).
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
(A)
Lesson period
First semester
The course will take place online via Teams. Slides, readings and other support materials will be made available on Ariel for each lecture during the semester.
Exams will take place via Teams.
The student can freely choose whether to take this course (Philosophy of language A) or the course taught in the II semester by prof. Clotilde Calabi (Philosophy of language B). There is no partition based on the first letter of the surname.
Exams will take place via Teams.
The student can freely choose whether to take this course (Philosophy of language A) or the course taught in the II semester by prof. Clotilde Calabi (Philosophy of language B). There is no partition based on the first letter of the surname.
Course syllabus
The course will explore the following issues:
(a) Is language an instinct?
(b) Does language determine/reflect the way we see the world?
(c) Does language play a role in constructing social categories?
(a) Is language an instinct?
(b) Does language determine/reflect the way we see the world?
(c) Does language play a role in constructing social categories?
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites other than those required to enroll in the program.
Teaching methods
Online lectures via Teams
Teaching Resources
The texts for the exam are the same both for students that attend class and for students that don't.
For the 9 CFU exam, the texts are the following:
Chomsky N., Linguaggio e problemi della conoscenza, Il Mulino, 2016
Moro A., I confini di Babele. Il cervello e il mistero delle lingue impossibili, Il Mulino, 2015
Guy Deutscher, La lingua colora il mondo. Come le parole deformano la realtà, Bollati Boringhieri 2016
Federica Formato, Gender, Discourse and Ideology in Italian, Palgrave Mac Millan, 2019
+ slides, articles and other support materials that will be made available on Ariel for each lecture during the semester.
For the 6 CFU exam, the texts are the following:
Chomsky N., Linguaggio e problemi della conoscenza, Il Mulino, 2016
Moro A., I confini di Babele. Il cervello e il mistero delle lingue impossibili, Il Mulino, 2015
Guy Deutscher, La lingua colora il mondo. Come le parole deformano la realtà, Bollati Boringhieri 2016
+ slides, articles and other support materials that will be made available on Ariel for the lectures during the semester (except the lectures on language and gender).
For the 9 CFU exam, the texts are the following:
Chomsky N., Linguaggio e problemi della conoscenza, Il Mulino, 2016
Moro A., I confini di Babele. Il cervello e il mistero delle lingue impossibili, Il Mulino, 2015
Guy Deutscher, La lingua colora il mondo. Come le parole deformano la realtà, Bollati Boringhieri 2016
Federica Formato, Gender, Discourse and Ideology in Italian, Palgrave Mac Millan, 2019
+ slides, articles and other support materials that will be made available on Ariel for each lecture during the semester.
For the 6 CFU exam, the texts are the following:
Chomsky N., Linguaggio e problemi della conoscenza, Il Mulino, 2016
Moro A., I confini di Babele. Il cervello e il mistero delle lingue impossibili, Il Mulino, 2015
Guy Deutscher, La lingua colora il mondo. Come le parole deformano la realtà, Bollati Boringhieri 2016
+ slides, articles and other support materials that will be made available on Ariel for the lectures during the semester (except the lectures on language and gender).
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral exam. The exam will ascertain whether the student is able to sketch the arguments presented in the course.
Unita' didattica A
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
(B)
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Unita' didattica A
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday 10.00 - 13.00. Covid emergency: office hours are held online via Skype or by telephone. Please send me an e-mail to make an appointment.
Festa del Perdono, 7 - Cortile Ghiacciaia, II piano. Please write an e-mail to make an appointment