PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE

The aim of this course is to (a) reconstruct the conception and method of so called “analytic philosophy” and (b) to investigate what of that method is still alive today, considering, on the one hand, the spread of naturalism in philosophy and, on the other, the very important role that cognitive sciences and neurosciences have been playing for a few years. In this setting, we shall also look at the relationship between analytic philosophy and so called “continental philosophy”, in particular at phenomenology, hermeneutics and deconstructivism.

The course is scheduled among the Core educational activities shared by Master’s degree programme in Philosophical Sciences and in History of Arts and Conservation of Artistic Heritage.

The student is expected to display (1) a detailed knowledge and critical analysis of some foundational works of analytic philosophy; (2) an ability to compare and evaluate the presuppositions and outcomes of different philosophical attitudes and methodologies; (3) an ability to individuate the theoretical relevance of the methods of philosophy in relation to other disciplines and research areas.

The course is designed to be accessible to a broad range of students, not just those who intend to major in philosophy.
Albeit not a pre-requisite, having taken an introductory course of philosophy of language in the three-year undergraduate degree and/or having some knowledge of elementary logic can still be helpful to follow the course with profit and awareness.

- George E. Moore: common sense and analysis. G. E. Moore, “A Defence of Common Sense” and "Proof of an External World", in Idem, Philosophical Papers, London, George Allen & Unwinn, 1959, 32-59 and pp. 127-150. Suggested reading: Chris Daly, An Introduction to Philosophical Methods, Peterborough, Broadview, 2010; cap. 1: “Common Sense”.

- Gottlob Frege: origins of analytic philosophy. G. Frege, "On Sense and Reference", in Arguing about Language, ed. by D. Byrne and M. Koelbel, London/New York, Routledge, 2010, pp. 49-55. Suggested reading: Michael Dummett, Origins of Analytic Philosophy, Cambridge (Ms.)/London, Harvard University Press, 1996.

- Bertrand Russell: analysis and scientific method. B. Russell, “On Scientific Method in Philosophy”, in Idem, Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays, Harmondsworth, Penguin, 1954, pp. 95-119; B. Russell, The Problems of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1911. Suggested reading: : Chris Daly, An Introduction to Philosophical Methods, cit., cap. 2: “Analysis”.

- Ludwig Wittgenstein: philosophy as clarification. L. Wittgenstein, Tractatus logico-philosophicus: Preface, propp. 3.323-3.328, 4-4.0031, 6.4-7; L. Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations: Preface and §§89-133 Suggested reading: Oskari Kuusela, The Struggle against Dogmatism. Wittgenstein and the Concept of Philosophy, Cambridge(Ms.)/London, Harvard University Press, 2008.

- Rudolf Carnap: logical analysis and crique of metaphysics. R. Carnap, “The Elimination of Metaphysics through Logical Analysis of Language” (http://www.ditext.com/carnap/elimination.html ). Suggested reading: Gottfried Gabriel, “Carnap's ‘elimination of metaphysics through logical analysis of language’”, Linguistic and Philosophical Investigations, 8:53-70 (2009).

Analityc philosophy and "continental" philosophy. Suggested reading: James Chase and Jack Reynolds, Analytic versus Continental. Arguments on the Methods and Value of Philosophy, Durham, Acumen, 2011.

- Analysis and metaphysics. Suggested reading: Peter F. Strawson, Analysis and Metaphysics. An Introduction to Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1992.

- Analytic philosophy today: between naturalism and conceptual analysis. Suggested reading: Timothy Williamson, The Philosophy of Philosophy, Oxford, Blackwell, 2007.

- George E. Moore: “A Defence of Common Sense” and "Proof of an External World", in Idem, Philosophical Papers, London, George Allen & Unwinn, 1959, 32-59 and pp. 127-150.
- Gottlob Frege, "On Sense and Reference", in Arguing about Language, ed. by D. Byrne and M. Koelbel, London/New York, Routledge, 2010, pp. 49-55.
- Bertrand Russell, “On Scientific Method in Philosophy”, in Idem, Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays, Harmondsworth, Penguin, 1954, pp. 95-119.
- Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1911.
- Ludwig Wittgenstein, Tractatus logico-philosophicus, Preface and propp. 3.323-3.328, 4-4.0031, 6.4-7.
- Ludwig, . Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations, Preface and §§89-133.
- Rudolf Carnap, “The Elimination of Metaphysics through Logical Analysis of Language” (http://www.ditext.com/carnap/elimination.html ).
- Timothy Williamson, The Philosophy of Philosophy, Oxford, Blackwell, 2007.

The verification method consists of two phases: 1) the drafting of a short paper (about 15,000 characters) agreed with the teacher, on a question, a problem, a theme analysed during the course; the deadline to submit the paper is seven days before the exam session; 2) seminar discussion of the papers’ topics in the final part of the course.

The course is arranged into two parts. The first one entails the critical exposition and discussion of the main themes and problems of the course (with the contribution of students’ questions, requests for clarification, objections); in the second part the students will present and discuss the themes and topics chosen for the papers in view of the final written project.

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Additional readings may be found online. I will make them electronically available (I.S.A. material).
The material on JSTOR can be downloaded directly from the electronic resources of the Library.

Three seminars of two hours each will be held jointly by Ph.D. students. Six different topics will be treated, in order to introduce some of the key concepts in the last century’s and contemporary philosophy of language. Attendance is mandatory for those who have not taken any philosophy of language class before.

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This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development