10283 - Philosophy of Language (1)

Learning outcomes

This course aims to provide an introduction to the topics of meaning and reference in contemporary philosophy of language. By "contemporary philosophy of language" it is here meant the philosophy of language of the so-called analytic tradition (http://www.iep.utm.edu/analytic/) which has among this representative founders Gottlob Frege, Bertrand Russell and Ludwig Wittgenstein. The course is an introductory since it presupposes no previous acquaintance with the field, but it is not, however, an elementary course, since some of the topics are difficult and the issues reach far and deep into other areas of philosophy, such as logic, the philosophy of mind, epistemology, metaphysics. The course will take us through the work of the early authors (Mill, Frege, Russell, Carnap) up to the recent debate on the causal theory of reference (Donnellan, Kripke, Putnam).

Course contents

The course will focus on the nature of truth by analyzing the main theories of truth and issues related to the value of truth, relativism and the debate on post-truth.

Readings/Bibliography

Giorgio Volpe, Teorie della verità, Guerini, 2005.

Marizio Ferraris, Post verità ed altri enigmi, Il Mulino 2018.

Diego Marconi, Per la verità. Einaudi, 2007-

Teaching methods

Together with the standard classroom lectures, I will employ quizzies on the elearning system and I will experiment the teaching method of peer instruction.

Assessment methods

Paper and discussion during exam.

I will use these verification criteria to determine the following evaluation thresholds:


30 and praise excellent proof, both in knowledge and in the critical and expressive articulation.

30 excellent test, complete knowledge, well articulated and correctly expressed, with some critical ideas.


27-29 good test, comprehensive and satisfactory knowledge, substantially correct expression.


24-26 discrete test, knowledge present in the substantial points, but not exhaustive and not always correctly articulated.


21-23 sufficient proof, knowledge present in a sometimes superficial way, but the general thread is understood. Short and often inappropriate and incomplete expression and articulation.


18-21 superficial knowledge, the common thread is not understood with continuity. The expression and the articulation of the discourse also have significant gaps.


<18 insufficient evidence, absent or very incomplete knowledge, lack of orientation in the discipline, defective and inappropriate expression. Examination not passed.

Teaching tools

Slides, elearning and Kahoot software for the peer instruction method.

Office hours

See the website of Sebastiano Moruzzi