PHIL3804 (PH38D) Philosophy of Language

The question of what it is to be meaningful is the central concern of Philosophy of Language and this course aims to canvass attempts at delineating the meaning of meaning. Language is Janus faced, facing outward to the external world and inward towards speakers’ words. Yet, how does language relate to the mind on the one hand and reality on the other? To enable students to tackle such topics is the principal objective of the course. Generally, the question ‘What is meaning?’ forms the focal point, and it will be addressed through the works of Chomsky, Davidson, Grice, Quine and Wittgenstein, among others. Attention will also be paid to concepts like metaphorical meaning, egocentric expressions and proper names.

Links currently exist to the following version(s) of the course: