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Phil 306 : Philosophy of Language (Spring 2008)

Class Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays. 1 -2.30pmInstructor: Gillian Russell

Location: Earth and Planetary Sciences 203My office: 209 Wilson Hall

Office hours: Thursdays 3-4pm or by appointmentEmail: grussell - at - wustl - dot - edu

E-reserves site for this course: httn://eivs.wustl.cdu/eres/courseoage.asnx?cid=2432^^ iBHffa'KrmS!mniKH^<MiTlH>rfliL> iin>n]i

This is an upper-level undergraduate course in the philosophy of language. We will focus on four main topics: (1) descriptions, (2)names and semantic externalism, (3) truth and meaning (4) realism about meaning. Our subject is heavily influenced by work in logic,and to an increasing extent, by the work of theoretical linguists, and as a result previous courses in these areas may help you, thoughthey are not required.

One of the more difficult aspects of the course will be the reading, which consists largely in longish, original articles written asresearch papers for other philosophers (rather than as introductory texts aimed at students.) I recommend that you take a look at JimPrvor's article "How to read a philosophy paper" - he gives some good advice on approaching this kind of reading.

Many of the readings for the course can be found in the course reader: Readings in The Philosophy of Language, edited by PeterLudlow. Some of the assigned readings for the course will not be in this collection, but those will be posted on the e-res site for thecourse (linked above).

"leadings and TopicsReadings marked with an '(L)' can be found in Ludlow's Readings in the Philosophy of Language. Readings listed under a class arethe assigned reading for that class. If you're writing one of the longer papers on a topic you might like to have a look at any additionalreading that has been recommended.

Part 0 - Introductory Ideas

Tuesday 15th JanuaryIntroduction to the subject. No preassigned reading.

Thursday 17th JanuaryThe semantic/pragmatic distinction.Reading: "Logic and Conversation " - H.P. Grice (on e-res)

Tuesday 22nd January

Frege's philosophy of language.Reading:"The Thought: A Logical Inquiry " - Gottlob Frege (L)

Thursday 24th January - Paper 1 due today

J -ege's puzzlewading: "On Sense and Reference" - Gottlob Frege (L)

Additional recommended reading:"Propositions" by Richard Cartvvright

chapter 1 of Understanding Truth by Scott SoamesThe Language Instinct by Stephen Pinker

Part 1 - Descriptions

desday 29th JanuaryRussell's Theory of DescriptionsReading: "On Denoting", Betrand Russell, available through J-stor: hun://links.istor.org/sici?sici=0026-4423%28190510%292%3A14%3A56%3C479%3AOD%3E2.0.CO%3B2-P

Additional Recommended Reading: "Descriptions" - Bertrand Russell (L), "On What There Is" - W.V.O Quine

Thursday 31st JanuaryStravvson's Response to RussellReading: "On Referring" - Pete

Tuesday 5th FebruaryThe Referential/Attributive Distinction:Reading: "Reference and Definite Descriptions" - Keith Donnellan (L)

Thursday 7th February - paper 2 due today

Pragmatic approaches to the referential/attributuve distinction:Reading: "Speaker's Reference and Semantic Reference" - Saul Kripke (L)

Tuesday 12th February

jntext and Communication - Stephen Neale (L)

Thursday 14th FebruaryReferential and Quantificational Indefinites - Janet Dean Fodor and Ivan A. Saag (L)

Part 2 - Names and Semantic Externalism

Tuesday 12th February

Descriptivism and the Modal Argument:Reading: Lecture 1 of Naming and Necessity - Saul Kripke (on e-res)

Thursday 14th February - paper 3 due todayThe Causal Theory of Reference:Reading: Lecture 2 of Naming and i

Tuesday 19th February

- Saul Kripke (L)

Responses to the Causal Theory:Reading: "The Causal Theory of Names" - Gareth Evans (L)

•Thursday 21st February

Challenging Frege:Reading: "Meaning and Reference" - Hilary Putnam (on e-res)

Part 3 - Truth and Meaning

Thursday 21st Februaryerificationism:jading: Selected readings from Langauge, Truth and Logic - Alfred J. Ayer (on e-res)

Tuesday 26th FebruaryIntensions and state descriptions:Selections from Carnap (on e-res)

Thursday 28th FebruaryProblems for Verificationism (I):Reading: "Empiricist Criteria of Co mificance: Problems and Changes" - Carl G. Hempel (on e-res)

Tuesday 4th MarchProblems for Verificationism (II):Reading: "Two Dogmas of Empiricism" - W.V.O. Quine (on e-res)

Thursday 6th MarchTarski on truth:Reading: "The Semantic Conception of Truth and the Foundations of Semantics" - Alfred Tarski (on e-res)

Tuesday 11th March

Thursday 13th March

Spring Break

Tuesday 25th March"Truth and Meaning" - Donald Davidson (L)

Thursday 27th March - paper 4 due today"Theories of Truth as Theories of Meaning" - chapter 12 of volume 2 of Philosophical Analysis in the Twentieth Century by ScottSoames (on e-res)

Tuesday 1st AprilSelections from "General Semantics" - David Lewis (e-res)

Thursday 3rd April"Direct Reference, Propositional Attitudes, and Semantic Content" - Scott Soames (L)

Part 4 - Realism about Meaning

luesday 8th April - Quinean Skepticism"Translation and Meaning" - W.V.O. Quine (L)

Thursday 10th AprilRadical Translation" - Donald Davidson (L)

"uesday 15th AprilSelections from Wittgenstein on Rules and Private Language by Saul Kripke

Thursday 17th AprilNo class.

Tuesday 22nd AprilSelections from Wittgenstein on Rules and Private Language by Saul Kripke

Thursday 24th April - paper 5 due todayDiscussion - no extra reading

Recommended extra readings:

"The Death of Meaning" - Gilbert Harman,"The Rule-Following Considerations" - Paul Boghossian,"Skepticism about Meaning: Indeterminacy, Normativity and the Rule-Following Paradox" - Scott Soame

ssessmentAssessment is by way of five papers. The first 3 papers are each worth 10% and will be 400 words maximum. I will be saying a lotmore about what I expect from these short papers in class. The second paper will be 5 pages long and contributes 25% to the finalgrade, and the final paper will be 12 - 15 pages long and worth 45% of your final grade. I will be providing topics for the 4th and 5thpapers, but you can also use your own topic. If you'd like to do this I strongly recommend discussing it with me first (you mighteither come to my office hours, or send me an outline by email.) There is no exam for this course.

I prefer papers to be double-spaced, and for each page to be marked with your name and page numbers. Please clip the pages togetherwith a paper clip rather than a staple. Papers can be turned in by placing them in the appropriate drawer in the "turn in" filing cabinetin the philosophy department by 3.30pm on the day on which they are due. (The office closes at 4pm and we try to discouragestudents from knocking on the door at 4pm when the staff are trying to go home.)

PlagiarismAny cases of suspected plagiarism, or other problems with academic integrity, will be reported to the Dean in his role as head of theacademic integrity committee.

Pass/Fail Optionstudents taking the course pass/fail will need an overall grade of C- for a pass.