Specialization Seminar in Logic and Philosophy of Language

Objectives

1. Acquire in-depth knowledge of a selection of authors, theories, themes and discussions in Logic and the Philosophyof Language.

2. Improve the understanding of what is specific and distinctive in the philosophical perspectives provided by Logicand the Philosophy of Language.

3. Develop the ability to read autonomously, fruitfully and critically the fundamental texts that have marked the development of these disciplines.

4. Integrate the research carried out in the seminar into the development of the student's individual doctoral project.

General characterization

Code

73203108

Credits

10.0

Responsible teacher

Pedro Rui do Espírito Santo Abreu

Hours

Weekly - 2

Total - 280

Teaching language

Portuguese

Prerequisites

N/A

Bibliography

Cappelen, H.(2018).Fixing Language: An Essay on Conceptual Engineering. Oxford University Press.
Carnap, R.(1932) “The Elimination of Metaphysics Through Logical Analysis of Language” in A. J. Ayer (ed.), LogicalPositivism (Glencoe, IL: The Free Press, 1959)
Carnap, R.(1934, 1937) The Logical Syntax of Language. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.
Carnap, R.(1950).“Empiricism, Semantics, and Ontology,” Revue Internationale de Philosophie Vol. 4: 20–40; Universityof Chicago Press, 1956.
Grice, Paul.(1969)“Meaning.” In Studies in the Way of Words. Harvard University Press, 1989.
Grice, Paul.(1975).“Logic and Conversation”. In Studies in the Way of Words.Harvard University Press, 1989.
Ludlow, P.(2014). Living Words: Meaning Underdetermination and the Dynamic Lexicon. Oxford University Press.
Plunkett, D., Sundell, T. (2013). Disagreement and the Semantics of Normative and Evaluative Terms. Philosophers’Imprint, 13(23), 1–37.
Quine, W. (1960) Word and Object. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Teaching method

Regular tutorial meetings devoted to:

a. content exposition and discussion with students;

b. reading and analysis of texts;

c. supervision of the elaboration of an original essay connecting the seminar topics with students' individual doctoralresearch;

d. discussion and assistance in the elaboration of students’ doctoral projects;

e. students' involvement in the initiatives of research units: reading groups, presentations and conferences(conference planned for May 2022 on topics related to those of the seminar);

f. announcement of other meetings, networks and other relevant activities.

Evaluation method

Continuous assessment - Original essay connecting the topics of the seminar to their individual doctoral research(50%), Two written reviews/comments on two of the texts under study(50%)

Subject matter

The course offers a perspective on the last 100 years of Logic and Philosophy of Language structured according totwo fundamental philosophical operations or tendencies: i. logical and conceptual analysis, and ii. logical andconceptual engineering.
The course tracks the emergence, recurrence, and dialogue between these two trends in the work of various authors:
R. Carnap: Logical Syntax and the Principle of Tolerance.
W. V. Quine: Holism and the Critique of the Analytic-Synthetic Distinction.
P. Grice: Meaning, Logic and the Rationality of Conversation.
D. Plunkett and T. Sundell: "Metalinguistic Negotiation".
P. Ludlow: The "Dynamic lexicon".
H. Cappelen: Conceptual engineering according to the "Austerity Framework".

Programs

Programs where the course is taught:

Specialization in Logic and Philosophy of Language