1

PHIL/MCOM/LALS PHIL/MCOM/LALS 2504A2504A

Language and Language and CommunicationCommunication

Eros CorazzaEros CorazzaCarleton UniversityCarleton University

Department of PhilosophyDepartment of Philosophy

2

TermTerm: :  Winter 2007 Winter 2007 MeetingsMeetings: :  Tuesdays Tuesdays 2:35-5:25 2:35-5:25 (12 (12

meetings) meetings) First Meeting: January 9 2007First Meeting: January 9 2007 Last Meeting: April 3 2007Last Meeting: April 3 2007

NO class on March 6 2007NO class on March 6 2007

3

VenueVenue:: MC 5050MC 5050 InstructorInstructor: :  Eros CorazzaEros Corazza OfficeOffice: :  Paterson Hall 3A41Paterson Hall 3A41 Office h.Office h.: :  by appointmentby appointment PhonePhone: :  520-2600 Ext: 2326520-2600 Ext: 2326 EmailEmail: : 

eros_corazza@yahoo.comeros_corazza@yahoo.com; ; eros_corazza@carleton.caeros_corazza@carleton.ca

4

Essay Deadline: Essay Deadline: March 6 2007March 6 2007

Exam: exam periodExam: exam period

5

Class DescriptionClass DescriptionWe shall begin by discussing some We shall begin by discussing some central topics of Frege’s philosophy of central topics of Frege’s philosophy of language. The main topics discussed will language. The main topics discussed will be: Frege’s sense/reference distinction, be: Frege’s sense/reference distinction, Frege’s theory of thought, Frege’s anti-Frege’s theory of thought, Frege’s anti-psychologism and Frege’s theory of psychologism and Frege’s theory of demonstratives. To understand the demonstratives. To understand the importance of Frege’s contribution we importance of Frege’s contribution we will focus on Dummett’s interpretation.will focus on Dummett’s interpretation.

6

We shall then discuss some central We shall then discuss some central topics from Wittgenstein’s topics from Wittgenstein’s Philosophical InvestigationsPhilosophical Investigations and the and the way they have been perceived within way they have been perceived within the philosophical community.the philosophical community.

7

Finally, we shall look at the direct reference Finally, we shall look at the direct reference theory of proper names (Kripke, Donnellan, theory of proper names (Kripke, Donnellan, …) and the direct reference theory of …) and the direct reference theory of indexicals (Kaplan, Perry, …). We shall pay indexicals (Kaplan, Perry, …). We shall pay particular attention to the notion of context particular attention to the notion of context and the way our linguistic interchange and the way our linguistic interchange exploits it in order to single out objects of exploits it in order to single out objects of discourse. In so doing we shall see how discourse. In so doing we shall see how direct reference deals with Frege’s and direct reference deals with Frege’s and Wittgenstein’s conceptions of language.Wittgenstein’s conceptions of language.

8

RequirementsRequirements

It is mandatory to have a Carleton It is mandatory to have a Carleton student “connect” account and to student “connect” account and to register on WebCT.register on WebCT.

9

AssignmentsAssignments

One short essay and a final (2 h.) One short essay and a final (2 h.) examexam

Short Essay (1500 words maximum)Short Essay (1500 words maximum)Weight: 30%Weight: 30%

Final exam (answer 2 questions out of Final exam (answer 2 questions out of 5 or 6)5 or 6) Weight: 70%Weight: 70%

10

Due AssignementDue Assignement

Short Essay: March 6, 2007Short Essay: March 6, 2007

Final exam: Exam Period (a 2 h. Final exam: Exam Period (a 2 h. exam)exam)

11

Texts RecommendedTexts Recommended In bold characters the texts you In bold characters the texts you

mustmust read. The other texts read. The other texts mentioned are extremely helpful in mentioned are extremely helpful in understanding and appreciating the understanding and appreciating the text you must read. text you must read.

12

On FregeOn Frege

Beaney, M. (ed.), 1997, Beaney, M. (ed.), 1997, The Frege The Frege ReaderReader, Blackwell, “On Sinn and , Blackwell, “On Sinn and Bedeutung” (p.151-71) and “Thought” Bedeutung” (p.151-71) and “Thought” (p.325-345) (p.325-345)

Dummett, M., 1973, Dummett, M., 1973, Frege Philosophy of Frege Philosophy of LanguageLanguage, Oxford UP, ch. 5, ch. 6, ch. 11, Oxford UP, ch. 5, ch. 6, ch. 11

Dummett, M., 1981, Dummett, M., 1981, The Interpretation of The Interpretation of Frege’s Philosophy of LanguageFrege’s Philosophy of Language, Oxford UP, , Oxford UP, ch. 6, ch. 10ch. 6, ch. 10

13

Dummett, M., 1993, Dummett, M., 1993, The Origins of The Origins of Analytical PhilosophyAnalytical Philosophy, Harvard UP, , Harvard UP, ch. 2, ch. 4, ch. 10, ch. 13ch. 2, ch. 4, ch. 10, ch. 13

Perry, J., 1977, “Frege on Perry, J., 1977, “Frege on Demonstratives”, in Perry, J., 1994, Demonstratives”, in Perry, J., 1994, The Problem of the Essential The Problem of the Essential IndexicalIndexical, Oxford UP, ch. 1, Oxford UP, ch. 1

14

On WittgensteinOn Wittgenstein Wittgenstein, L. Wittgenstein, L. Philosophical Philosophical

InvestigationsInvestigations, Blackwell, Blackwell

Marie McGinn, 1997, Marie McGinn, 1997, Wittgenstein Wittgenstein and the Philosophical Investigationsand the Philosophical Investigations, , Routledge Backer, G.P. & Hacker, Routledge Backer, G.P. & Hacker, P.M.S, 1980, P.M.S, 1980, Wittgenstein: Meaning Wittgenstein: Meaning and Understanding Vol. 1and Understanding Vol. 1, Blackwell, Blackwell

15

Backer, G.P. & Hacker, P.M.S, 1985, Backer, G.P. & Hacker, P.M.S, 1985, Wittgenstein: Rules, Grammar and Wittgenstein: Rules, Grammar and Necessity Vol. 2Necessity Vol. 2, Blackwell, Blackwell

Hacker, P.M.S, 1990, Hacker, P.M.S, 1990, Wittgenstein: Wittgenstein: Meaning and Mind Vol. 3Meaning and Mind Vol. 3, Blackwell, Blackwell

16

On Direct ReferenceOn Direct Reference

Corazza, E., 2004, Corazza, E., 2004, Reflecting the Reflecting the MindMind, Oxford UP, Oxford, Oxford UP, Oxford

Kaplan, D., 1977, Kaplan, D., 1977, “Demonstratives”, in Almog, J. et “Demonstratives”, in Almog, J. et als. (eds.), 1989, als. (eds.), 1989, Themes From Themes From KaplanKaplan, Oxford UP, pp. 481-563 , Oxford UP, pp. 481-563

17

Kaplan, D, 1989, “Afterthought”, in Kaplan, D, 1989, “Afterthought”, in Almog, J. et als. (eds.), 1989, Almog, J. et als. (eds.), 1989, Themes Themes From KaplanFrom Kaplan, Oxford UP, pp. 565-614, Oxford UP, pp. 565-614

Perry, J., 2001, Perry, J., 2001, Reference and Reference and ReflexivityReflexivity, CSLI Publications, Stanford, CSLI Publications, Stanford

Wettstein, H., 2004, Wettstein, H., 2004, The Magic PrismThe Magic Prism, , Oxford UP, OxfordOxford UP, Oxford

18

Essay TopicEssay Topic You should write one essay of 1500 words You should write one essay of 1500 words

(or 6 typewritten double-spaced pages) (or 6 typewritten double-spaced pages) maximummaximum on one of the following four on one of the following four questions:questions:

1.1. Is the following inference valid?Is the following inference valid?(a) Mary believes that Hespherus is a star(a) Mary believes that Hespherus is a star

(b) Hesperus is Phosphorus(b) Hesperus is Phosphorus(c) Mary believes that Phosphorus is a star(c) Mary believes that Phosphorus is a starWhy?Why?

19

2.2. What’s the difference between What’s the difference between Frege and Frege and Dummett’s Frege?Dummett’s Frege?

3.3. Explain and evaluate Frege’s anti-Explain and evaluate Frege’s anti-psychologism.psychologism.

4.4. Discuss and evaluate Wittgenstein’s Discuss and evaluate Wittgenstein’s critique critique of the Augustinian picture.of the Augustinian picture.