| Unit name | Philosophy of Language |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHIL30047 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Everett |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
PHIL20046 Realism and Normativity |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Philosophy |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit will examine some of the most important issues and debates in the philosophy of language over the last 100 years. The aim of the unit is not only to give you a comprehensive grasp of these debates but also an idea of how to approach other unfamiliar debates within the philosophy of language. More generally I hope to convey a sense of what is ultimately at stake in these debates and how we might go about resolving them.
The issues we will consider include: how descriptions and proper names should be understood, the nature of presuppositions, the distinction between pragmatics and semantics, the proper form for a theory of meaning to take, and the nature of metaphor.
Key Text:- Lycan, W., Philosophy of Language, 2nd Edition, Routledge, New York, 2008.
Students may also wish to consult:- Miller, A., Philosophy of Language, Routledge, London, 1998. Ludlow, P., (ed.) Readings in the Philosophy of Language, MIT Press, Cambridge, 1997.
