PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE University of Texas, Austin Department of Philosophy Phil 332, Fall 2010
INSTRUCTOR Lawrence Ray Buchanan E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (512) 471-7396 Office: Waggener Hall 4th Floor Room # 416B Office hours: Thursdays 12:00 – 1:00
COURSE SUMMARY The course focuses on various philosophical issues concerning the nature of linguistic communication. In the first half of the course, we will focus on the question of how (and to what extent) we can communicate our thoughts with words. In the second part of the course, we will discuss various philosophical puzzles concerning the nature of meaning and reference with the aim of seeing what these puzzles can tell us about the nature of linguistic communication more generally.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS Assignments: • Two 6-7 page papers on topics selected from a list of prompts given by instructor. The first of these papers, due on Sept. 23, will be worth 20% of the student’s final grade for the course. For the second paper (25% of the final grade) students will submit complete drafts on Nov. 11th, and then submit a final revised version on Nov. 25th. • One in-class midterm worth 25% of the student’s final grade (to be given on Oct. 15th). • A cumulative take-home final exam (25% of the grade) due on the final class of the term. • Class participation and attendance (5%).
COURSE MATERIALS Required readings will include selections from numerous 20th century philosophers of language, including (but not limited to) Bertrand Russell, Gottlieb Frege, Paul Grice, John Searle, David Lewis, Stephen Schiffer, Donald Davidson, Kent Bach, Stephen Neale, Saul Kripke, and Gareth Evans.
All required readings, as well as a detailed course calendar, will be posted on Blackboard.
UT HONOR CODE “The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community.”