Philosophy of Language

Philosophy 180
Spring 1989
Course Syllabus

Professor

Edward N. Zalta, Philosophy Department
Offices: Cordura 226 (CSLI) and 92B (Philosophy)
Phone: 723-0345 (Cordura), 723-2133 (92B)
Electronic Mail: zalta@csli
Mailboxes: Building 90 Lounge and Ventura Hall
Office Hours: Wed: Cordura, 2:30-3:30; Thurs: 92B, 2:30-3:30

Class Meetings:

Lectures: Tuesday, Thursday, 1:15-2:30, 200-305

Required Texts:

The Philosophy of Language, A. P. Martinich (ed), Oxford, 1985
Course Reader (set of xeroxed papers)

Required Work:

2 short papers (4-5 pages) (each 25%of your grade)
1 long paper (8-10 pages) (40%of your grade)
Class participation (10%of your grade)

Course Prerequisites:

Philosophy 80 and some background in logic

Course Description:

This course is designed to be a survey of the seminal articles of 20th century analytic philosophy of language. The philosophy of language has been one of the dominant areas of philosophy during this century. It includes a broad range of topics. We will cover much of this range, though not all. Martinich's book contains most of the articles that you will read. A few others will be xeroxed for you. So that we don't spread ourselves too thin, we shall not cover the last two parts of Martinich's book. However, we will read several of the articles in each of the first six parts.

The lectures should give you some perspective on each work as a whole as well as provide a careful analysis of the more significant passages. However, I do not plan to lecture the entire hour and fifteen minutes of each class. I shall count on at least fifteen to thiry minutes of questions and discussion, not necessarily reserved for the end of each class. Since part of your grade consists of class participation, you should come to class prepared to ask and answer questions about the assigned reading.

The two short papers you must write will be on assigned topics. However, the required long paper may be on a topic of your choosing, though it must have the approval of the professor. You can either come in to see me about this, or send me an e-mail message (to which I will reply). At the end of the syllabus, you will find a short statement about grading policies. Be sure to read this carefully.

COURSE SCHEDULE

NOTE: The following course schedule is tentative and subject to change. Such changes, if any, will be announced in class. Each date is followed by one or more titles of papers that should be read for class that day. The designation `(M)' indicates the paper will be found somewhere in the Martinich volume.

Part I. Names and Descriptions.

Apr 06:

G. Frege, ``On Sense and Meaning'' (M)

Apr 11:

G. Frege, ``On Sense and Meaning'' (M)

Apr 13:

B. Russell, ``Descriptions'' (M)

Apr 18:

S. Kripke, ``Naming and Necessity'' (M)

Apr 20:

K. Donnellan, ``Speaking of Nothing'' (Xerox)

Apr 25:

SHORT PAPER #1 DUE
H. Putnam, ``Is Semantics Possible?'' (M)

Part II. Reference and Demonstratives.

Apr 27:

S. Kripke, ``Speaker's Reference and Semantic Reference'' (M)

May 02:

D. Kaplan, ``Demonstratives'' (Xerox)

Part III. Modality and Possible Worlds.

May 04:

D. Lewis, ``Possible Worlds'' (Xerox);
S. Kripke, ``Semantical Considerations on Modal Logic'' (Xerox)

May 09:

R. Stalnaker, ``Propositions'' (M)

Part IV. Propositional Attitudes.

May 11:

W. V. O. Quine, ``Quantifiers and Propositional Attitudes'' (M)

May 16:

SHORT PAPER #2 DUE
D. Kaplan, ``Quantifying In'' (M)

Part V. Truth and Meaning.

May 18:

A. Tarski, ``The Semantic Conception of Truth'' (M)

May 23:

J. Etchemendy, ``Tarski on Truth and Logical Consequence'' (Xerox)

May 25:

C. Hempel, ``Empiricist Criteria of Cognitive Significance,'' (M);
W. V. O. Quine, ``Two Dogmas of Empiricism'' (M)

May 30:

E. Zalta, ``Logical and Analytic Truths That Aren't Necessary''
(Xerox)

Part VI. Utterances and Speech Acts.

Jun 01:

H. P. Grice, ``Utterer's Meaning and Intentions'' (M)

Jun 06:

FINAL PAPER DUE
J. L. Austin, ``Performative Utterances'' (M);
J. Searle, ``What is a Speech Act'' (M)

Jun 08:

No class

Grading Policies

1. No late papers will be accepted, nor incompletes given, unless special permission is obtained from the professor in advance. Permission to turn in a late paper comes at the price of a grade penalty, unless there is a genuine emergency or the circumstances are exceptional in some other way.

2. Reevaluations: Students may request a reevaluation of a paper if they feel that it has been incorrectly graded. The work must be resubmitted to the professor within one week of the date the paper was graded and returned.

3. Steady improvement will be considered in determining your final grade, especially in borderline cases.

Philosophy of Language

Philosophy 180
Spring 1989
Course Syllabus

Professor

Edward N. Zalta, Philosophy Department
Offices: Cordura 226 (CSLI) and 92B (Philosophy)
Phone: 723-0345 (Cordura), 723-2133 (92B)
Electronic Mail: zalta@csli
Mailboxes: Building 90 Lounge and Ventura Hall
Office Hours: Wed: Cordura, 2:30-3:30; Thurs: 92B, 2:30-3:30

Class Meetings:

Lectures: Tuesday, Thursday, 1:15-2:30, 200-305

Required Texts:

The Philosophy of Language, A. P. Martinich (ed), Oxford, 1985
Course Reader (set of xeroxed papers)

Required Work:

2 short papers (4-5 pages) (each 25%of your grade)
1 long paper (8-10 pages) (40%of your grade)
Class participation (10%of your grade)

Course Prerequisites:

Philosophy 80 and some background in logic

Course Description:

This course is designed to be a survey of the seminal articles of 20th century analytic philosophy of language. The philosophy of language has been one of the dominant areas of philosophy during this century. It includes a broad range of topics. We will cover much of this range, though not all. Martinich's book contains most of the articles that you will read. A few others will be xeroxed for you. So that we don't spread ourselves too thin, we shall not cover the last two parts of Martinich's book. However, we will read several of the articles in each of the first six parts.

The lectures should give you some perspective on each work as a whole as well as provide a careful analysis of the more significant passages. However, I do not plan to lecture the entire hour and fifteen minutes of each class. I shall count on at least fifteen to thiry minutes of questions and discussion, not necessarily reserved for the end of each class. Since part of your grade consists of class participation, you should come to class prepared to ask and answer questions about the assigned reading.

The two short papers you must write will be on assigned topics. However, the required long paper may be on a topic of your choosing, though it must have the approval of the professor. You can either come in to see me about this, or send me an e-mail message (to which I will reply). At the end of the syllabus, you will find a short statement about grading policies. Be sure to read this carefully.

COURSE SCHEDULE

NOTE: The following course schedule is tentative and subject to change. Such changes, if any, will be announced in class. Each date is followed by one or more titles of papers that should be read for class that day. The designation `(M)' indicates the paper will be found somewhere in the Martinich volume.

Part I. Names and Descriptions.

Apr 06:

G. Frege, ``On Sense and Meaning'' (M)

Apr 11:

G. Frege, ``On Sense and Meaning'' (M)

Apr 13:

B. Russell, ``Descriptions'' (M)

Apr 18:

S. Kripke, ``Naming and Necessity'' (M)

Apr 20:

K. Donnellan, ``Speaking of Nothing'' (Xerox)

Apr 25:

SHORT PAPER #1 DUE
H. Putnam, ``Is Semantics Possible?'' (M)

Part II. Reference and Demonstratives.

Apr 27:

S. Kripke, ``Speaker's Reference and Semantic Reference'' (M)

May 02:

D. Kaplan, ``Demonstratives'' (Xerox)

Part III. Modality and Possible Worlds.

May 04:

D. Lewis, ``Possible Worlds'' (Xerox);
S. Kripke, ``Semantical Considerations on Modal Logic'' (Xerox)

May 09:

R. Stalnaker, ``Propositions'' (M)

Part IV. Propositional Attitudes.

May 11:

W. V. O. Quine, ``Quantifiers and Propositional Attitudes'' (M)

May 16:

SHORT PAPER #2 DUE
D. Kaplan, ``Quantifying In'' (M)

Part V. Truth and Meaning.

May 18:

A. Tarski, ``The Semantic Conception of Truth'' (M)

May 23:

J. Etchemendy, ``Tarski on Truth and Logical Consequence'' (Xerox)

May 25:

C. Hempel, ``Empiricist Criteria of Cognitive Significance,'' (M);
W. V. O. Quine, ``Two Dogmas of Empiricism'' (M)

May 30:

E. Zalta, ``Logical and Analytic Truths That Aren't Necessary''
(Xerox)

Part VI. Utterances and Speech Acts.

Jun 01:

H. P. Grice, ``Utterer's Meaning and Intentions'' (M)

Jun 06:

FINAL PAPER DUE
J. L. Austin, ``Performative Utterances'' (M);
J. Searle, ``What is a Speech Act'' (M)

Jun 08:

No class

Grading Policies

1. No late papers will be accepted, nor incompletes given, unless special permission is obtained from the professor in advance. Permission to turn in a late paper comes at the price of a grade penalty, unless there is a genuine emergency or the circumstances are exceptional in some other way.

2. Reevaluations: Students may request a reevaluation of a paper if they feel that it has been incorrectly graded. The work must be resubmitted to the professor within one week of the date the paper was graded and returned.

3. Steady improvement will be considered in determining your final grade, especially in borderline cases.