00386 - Philosophy of Language

Course contents

You will be introduced to some of the main issues in the philosophy of language. After a preliminary explanation of some basic notions of the philosophy of logic and philosophical methodology (6 hours), the focus of the course will be on truth (6 hours), meaning (6 hours), reference (6 hours), and speech acts (6 hours). These topics will be addressed with the help of excerpts from some key texts of the analytic philosophical tradition.

N.B. The course for the students of the first cycle degree programme (L) in Foreign Languages and Literature comprises two parts, 'Modulo 1' and 'Modulo 2'. The syllabus for 'Modulo 1' is the syllabus of 10283 - Filosofia del linguaggio (1); the syllabus for 'Modulo 2' is the syllabus of 84995 - Filosofia della conoscenza (1).

Readings/Bibliography

Compulsory reading:

 

1. Basic notions

G. Volpe, La verità, Carocci, Roma 2012, cap. 1 (“Vero e falso”).

 

2. Truth

B. Russell, I problemi della filosofia, trad. it. di E. Spagnol, Feltrinelli, Milano 1959, cap. 12 (“Vero e falso”).

A. Tarski, La concezione semantica della verità e i fondamenti della semantica, trad. it. di A. Meotti, in L. Linsky (a cura di), Semantica e filosofia del linguaggio, Il Saggiatore, Milano 1969, pp. 27-74 (excerpts).

 

3. Meaning

G. Frege, Senso e significato, trad. it. di E. Picardi, in P. Casalegno et al., Filosofia del linguaggio, Cortina, Milano 2003, pp. 15-41 (excerpts).

L. Wittgenstein, Significato, uso, comprensione, trad. it. di R. Piovesan e M. Trinchero, in P. Casalegno et al., Filosofia del linguaggio, Cortina, Milano 2003, pp. 57-84.

D. Davidson, Interpretazione radicale, trad. it. di R. Brigati, in P. Casalegno et al., Filosofia del linguaggio, Cortina, Milano 2003, pp. 201-220 (excerpts).

 

4. Reference

B. Russell, Le descrizioni, trad. it. di A. Meotti, in P. Casalegno et al., Filosofia del linguaggio, Cortina, Milano 2003, pp. 43-56 (excerpts).

S. Kripke, Nomi e riferimento, trad. it. di M. Santambrogio, in P. Casalegno et al., Filosofia del linguaggio, Cortina, Milano 2003, pp. 151-176.

 

5. Speech acts

J. L. Austin, Come fare cose con le parole, trad. it. di C. Villata, Marietti1820, Bologna 2019 (excerpts).

P. Grice, Logica e conversazione, trad. it. di M. Sbisà, in P. Casalegno et al., Filosofia del linguaggio, Cortina, Milano 2003, pp. 221-244 (excerpts).

 

N.B.: The exact pages included in the "excerpts" are specified in the file "Testi con indicazione degli estratti", which will be available for download in the section "Introduzione" on Virtuale.

 

Students not attending lectures:

Same compulsory readings. However, students not attending lectures may benefit from reading in addition the relevant parts of one or more of the following manuals:

W. Lycan, Filosofia del linguaggio. Un’introduzione contemporanea, Cortina, Milano 2002.

P. Casalegno, Brevissima introduzione alla filosofia del linguaggio, Carocci, Roma 2011.

M. Vignolo e M. Frixione, Filosofia del linguaggio, Mondadori Università, Milano 2018.

S. Caputo e C. Barbero, Significato, Carocci, Roma 2018.

M. Alai, Filosofia analitica del linguaggio, Mimesis, Milano 2021.

 

N.B.: You can read the English texts instead of the Italian translations listed above.

Teaching methods

Three two-hour lectures per week in the third term.

The course is divided in five teaching units, one for each topic listed in the Course contents section. 1. Basic notions of philosophy of logic and philosophical methodology (6 hours). 2. Truth (6 hours). 3. Meaning (6 hours). 4. Reference (6 hours). 5. Speech acts (6 hours).

Attendance to lectures is warmly recommended: it is the best way to become familiar with the background and tools that are necessary to understand the texts and an opportunity to contribute to whole class discussions.

Assessment methods

Oral examination. The viva will assess whether you have achieved the learning outcomes of the course. You will need to show that you are familiar with the main views developed in the analytic philosophy of language, as well as that you have acquired the terminological and conceptual competences required to understand contemporary debates on truth, meaning, reference, and speech acts.

 

Grade assessment criteria

Grade range below 18 – Fail. Poor knowledge of core material, a significant inability to engage with the discipline. Very poor presentation.

Grade range 18-21 – Pass. Limited and superficial knowledge of the subject, a significant inability to follow the thread of the discussion. Presentation with many inadequacies.

Grade range 21-23 – Adequate. The knowledge is superficial, but the thread of the discussion has been consistently grasped. Presentation with some inadequacies.

Grade range 24-26 – Acceptable. Elementary knowledge of the key principles and concepts. The presentation is occasionally weak.

Grade range 27-29 – Good. Comprehensive knowledge. Good presentation.

30 – Very Good. Detailed knowledge with hints of critical thinking. Very good presentation.

30 cum laude – Outstanding. Excellent knowledge and depth of understanding. Excellent presentation.

 

During the viva you will not be allowed to use any written material, either on paper or in electronic format.

 

N.B.: If Philosophy of Language (1) is taken as part of the Knowledge and Language integrated course, the final evaluation will concern the integrated course and will involve assessment of achievement of the learning outcomes both in Philosophy of Language (1) and in Philosophy of Knowledge (1). However, it will be possible to take both exams together or separately at different exam sessions. 

By the same token, the final evaluation of 00386 - Philosophy of Language will involve assessment of achievement of the learning outcomes of both parts of the course ('Modulo 1' and 'Modulo 2'), but it will be possible to take both exams together or separately at different exam sessions.

 

Exam sessions
During the 2025/2026 academic year, exam sessions are scheduled in the following months: March, May, July, September, October, and December 2026; January and March 2027.

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders have the right to special adjustments according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the instructor but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adjustments.

For more information, visit the page: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students.

It is recommended that students contact the University office in advance. Any proposed adjustments must be submitted at least 15 days in advance for the instructor’s approval, who will evaluate their appropriateness in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

Teaching tools

The teacher will use slides during lectures. The slides will then be made available for download on Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Giorgio Volpe