Syllabus

Autumn, 2008

For a copy of this syllabus in PDF format, click here.

REQUIRED TEXTS

• A. P. Martinich. ed.: The Philosophy of Language: Fifth Edition (Oxford: 2008).  All page references below are to this book.
• David Kaplan, Demonstratives, available here (as a PDF file).

TOPICS AND READINGS

1. Preliminaries

• Topics: Introduction to philosophy of language; basic terms and concepts; review of first-order predicate logic with identity.
• Reading: Introduction, pp. 1-28, Tarski: “The Semantic Conception of Truth” §§1-11, pp. 85-93; Handout on Logic; Handout on Translation

2. Meaning

• Introduction to Part I, pp. 32-35
• H. P. Grice: “Meaning,” pp. 108-113

3. Sense and Denotation

• Introduction to Part III, pp. 209-216
• Gottlob Frege: “On Sense and Nominatum,” pp.217-229
• Gottlob Frege: “The Thought: A Logical Inquiry,” pp. 36-49

4. Definite Descriptions

• Bertrand Russell: “On Denoting,” pp. 230-238
• Bertrand Russell: “Descriptions,” pp. 239-245
• P. F. Strawson: “On Referring,” pp. 246-260
• Bertrand Russell: “Mr. Strawson on Referring,” pp. 261-264
• Keith Donnellan: “Reference and Definite Descriptions,” pp. 265-277

5. Names

• Introduction to Part IV, pp. 279-283
• John Stuart Mill: “Of Names,” pp. 284-289
• Saul Kripke: “Naming and Necessity,” pp. 290-305
• Hilary Putnam: “Meaning and Reference,” pp. 306-313
• Gareth Evans: “The Causal Theory of Names,” pp. 314-325
• John Searle: “Proper Names and Intentionality,” pp. 326-342

6. Demonstratives and Indexicals

• David Kaplan: “Dthat,” pp. 343-356
• David Kaplan: “Demonstratives” (excerpts)
• John Perry: “The Problem of the Essential Indexical,” pp. 366-376

7. Propositional Attitudes

• Introduction to Part V, pp. 379-382
• W. V. O. Quine: “Quantifiers and Propositional Attitudes,” pp. 383-388
• David Kaplan: “Quantifying In,” pp. 399-419
• Saul Kripke: “A Puzzle about Belief,” pp. 433-459

8. Speech Acts

• Introduction to Part II, pp. 131-135
• H. P. Grice: “Logic and Conversation,” pp. pp. 171-181

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

Your grade for this course will be determined by an in-class mid-term exam and a final project, which will be either a take-home exam or a 2500-3500 word (10-12 page) term paper. If you choose the term paper option, the choice of topic is yours, provided that it is related to the issues and philosophers treated in this course. (Check with me if you are in any doubt about whether your topic is appropriate.) Due date for the final project is Monday, December 8.

Graduate students in philosophy and undergraduates taking the course for (optional) W (writing) credit are required to write a term paper; all others may choose either the paper or take-home exam option.

If you are taking the course for W-credit, you must submit a preliminary draft, proposal, abstract, or outline of the paper by November 13. Your final draft should respond to the comments I give you on the preliminary draft.

IMPORTANT DATES

Mid term exam study questions posted		October 21
Mid term exam		October 28
Preliminary draft of paper (for those chosing the W option)		November 13
Final exam questions posted		December 1
Term paper due		December 8
Final exam due		December 8

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