PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE

The course provides the students with specialized knowledge concerning the tradition of thought from the later Wittgenstein to philosophers Richard Rorty, Stanley Cavell and Aldo Giorgio Gargani, focusing on issues concerning analysis of truth, sense-meaning and causes-reasons relationship.

On successful completion of this module, the student will be able to:

1. criticizing and organizing different hypotheses
2. distinguish dimensions relevant to the Philosophy of Language
3. organizing arguments amongst philosophy of language and other disciplines

The course acquaints the student with the main theme of the American neo-pragmatist tradition.

Open to grad students. Attendance requirement: attend all (or all but two) of the lectures.

«Wittgenstein's Legacy: intersection of disciplines»

The course looks carefully at some of Richard Rorty’s writings, especially «Objectivity, Relativism and Truth», in order to explore the dialogue that is presupposed with other contemporary philosophers – especially Stanley Cavell and Aldo Giorgio Gargani – as well as in his philosophical models: Wittgenstein and Davidson. The close reading analyzes and comments critically on the nature of truth, relativity and objectivity.

- L. Wittgenstein, «Ricerche filosofiche», Einaudi
- L. Wittgenstein, "Causa ed effetto seguito da Lezioni sulla libertà del volere", a cura di A. Voltolini, Einaudi
- D. Davidson, «Inquiries Into Truth and Interpretation» Oxford University Press

Passi scelti da:

- Richard Rorty:

«Consequences of Pragmatism», University of Minnesota Press
«Objectivity, Relativism, and Truth: Philosophical Papers, Volume 1», Cambridge University Press
«Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity», Cambridge University Press
«Truth and Progress: Philosophical Papers». Volume 3, Cambridge University Press

- Stanley Cavell:

«Must We Mean What We Say? A Book of Essays», Charles Scriber’s Sons; Cambridge University Press
«The Claim of Reason: Wittgenstein, Skepticism, Morality, and Tragedy», Clarendon Press
“Declining Decline: Wittgenstein as a Philosopher of Culture” in «Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy and the Social Sciences», n. 31.3 (Spring 1988), pp. 253-264

- Aldo Giorgio Gargani:

"Il soggetto di credenze e desideri", Introduzione a R. Rorty, «Scritti filosofici: Volume 1», Laterza
“La filosofia della psicologia di Ludwig Wittgenstein”, Inroduzione a L. Wittgenstein, «Ultimi scritti, 1948-1951: La filosofia della psicologia», Laterza
"Alle origini della filosofia analitica: Frege e Wittgenstein" in «Paradigmi», n. 2, 2008, pp. 113-129
"Filosofia e modalità. Sull'opera di Wittgenstein" in «Un filosofo senza trampoli. Saggi sulla filosofia di Ludwig Wittgenstein" a cura di L. Perissinotto, Mimesis

Letteratura secondaria (un approfondimento a scelta):

Su Wittgenstein

A.G. Gargani, «Introduzione a Wittgenstein», Laterza
A. Voltolini, « Introduzione alle Ricerche filosofiche», Laterza
A. Voltolini, "Il deflazionismo di Wittgenstein", in «Paradigmi», n. 2, 2008, pp. 99-112

Su Richard Rorty

J. Habermas, "Sulla svolta pragmatica di Richard Rorty" in Id., «Verità e giustificazione», Laterza
R. Brandom (ed.), "Rorty and His Critics", Blackwell

Su Stanley Cavell

H. Putnam, "La filosofia e l'educazione degli adulti: Stanley Cavell e lo scetticismo", in «La filosofia nell'età della scienza», il Mulino
J. Conant, "Stanley Cavell's Wittgenstein", in «The Harvard Review of Philosophy», vol. XIII, 2005, pp. 51-65

Su Aldo Giorgio Gargani

A.I. Davidson, "Dai giochi linguistici all'epistemologia politica" in A.G. Gargani, «Il sapere senza fondamenti», Mimesis
M. Iofrida, "Ricordo di Aldo Giorgio Gargani", in «Iride», n. 3, 2009, pp. 497-508
Ch. Alunni, "Aldo Giorgio Gargani (1933-2009). In memoriam" in «Revue de synthèse», tome 132, 6e série, n° 2, 2011, p. 1-11

Method of final evaluation: oral examination based on problems and readings considered during the course.

The main teaching method of the course is the lecture, the lecture-discussion, and the seminar. Every student will be encouraged to participate in the discussion of the materials (small group seminars and presentations).

Italian

Accessibility, Disability and Inclusion

Ca' Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

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