00386 - Philosophy of Language

Course contents

The course offers an introduction to some of the main themes and problems of analytic philosophy of language. It begins by providing basic notions of the philosophy of logic and philosophical methodology, and then focuses on the concepts of truth, meaning, reference, and speech acts. Each of these topics is explored through the presentation and commentary of selected classic texts from the philosophical tradition.

Note: For the Degree Programme in Foreign Languages and Literatures (00386 – Philosophy of Language), the course consists of two modules. Their syllabi correspond respectively to 10283 – Philosophy of Language (1) (Module 1) and 84995 – Philosophy of Knowledge (1) (Module 2).

Readings/Bibliography

Compulsory reading:

1. Truth

G. Volpe, La verità, Carocci, Roma 2012, cap. 1 (“Vero e falso”; il testo, a differenza degli altri, sarà caricato su virtuale).

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 (il testo, a differenza degli altri, sarà caricato su virtuale).

2. Meaning 1

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

H. Putnam, Significato, riferimento e stereotipi, trad. it. di M. Massone, in P. Casalegno et al., Filosofia del linguaggio, Cortina, Milano 2003, pp. 177-199.

3. Reference

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

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

4. Meaning 2

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.

5. Speech acts

J. L. Austin, Come fare cose con le parole, trad. it. di C. Villata, Marietti1820, Bologna 2019, Lezioni I, II, IV, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII.

R. Langton, L’autorità del linguaggio d’odio, in R. Langton, Linguaggio d’odio e autorità, lezioni milanesi per la Cattedra Rotelli, a cura di C. Bianchi e L. Caponetto, Mimesis, Milano 2020, pp. 23-62 (il testo, a differenza degli altri, sarà caricato su virtuale).

Students not attending lectures:

Students who do not attend lectures must prepare in addition the specified sections of the following textbooks:

P. Casalegno, Brevissima introduzione alla filosofia del linguaggio, Carocci, Roma 2011 (tutto il libro = pp. 1-116).

C. Bianchi e L. Caponetto, Filosofia sociale del linguaggio, Mimesis, Milano 2020, pp. 119-167 (= capitolo 6 e 7).

Note: Of course, you may read the course texts in their original language instead of the recommended translations.

Teaching methods

The course will be delivered through in-person lectures held during the third teaching period of the academic calendar, supplemented by sessions devoted to collective discussion of the course materials. The five topics listed in the syllabus correspond to the five weeks of teaching (Week 1: Introduction and Truth; Week 2: Meaning I; Week 3: Reference; Week 4: Meaning II; Week 5: Speech Acts).

The lectures will be organized as follows. In the first week, one lecture will provide a general introduction to the course, while the other two lectures will be devoted to the two assigned readings for that week. In the remaining weeks, the instructor will use the first two lectures of each week to present the context and content of the two assigned texts, while the third session will be dedicated to group discussion of those readings.

Specifically, during the third session of each week, two groups of students will each give a 10–15 minute presentation on one of each of the week's assigned texts. They will outline its key concepts and argumentation, identify any difficulties of interpretation or understanding, and highlight topics for discussion. The remainder of the session will be devoted to class discussion.

Students are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the assigned readings in advance, as the allocation of presentation topics for the discussion sessions will take place during the first class.

Assessment methods

The assessment consists of an oral examination designed to evaluate whether students have acquired the knowledge and skills that constitute the course's objectives. Students will be expected to demonstrate familiarity with the main positions developed within the analytic philosophy of language through the assigned readings in the bibliography, as well as to show that they have acquired the terminological and conceptual competence necessary to engage with contemporary debates on truth, meaning, reference, and speech acts.

Students who attend the course's lectures are required to present one of the assigned readings during one of the discussion sessions held in Weeks 2–5. The text that has been presented in class will not be examined again during the oral exam.

Students who do not attend the course's lectures must study the texts listed in the bibliography and the additional readings designated for non-attending students.

Note: If Philosophy of Language (1) is taken as part of 84994 – Knowledge and Language (Integrated Course), the final grade will be awarded for the integrated course as a whole. It will be determined by the results of the examinations for the two components of the integrated course, which must be taken during the examination sessions scheduled by the respective instructors, with the Module 1 exam taken before the Module 2 exam. The final grade will be the average of the two partial grades.

Similarly, the final grade for 00386 – Philosophy of Language will be determined by the results of the examinations for the two modules that make up the course.

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. 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. 

 

Exam sessions
During the 2026/2027 academic year, exam sessions are scheduled in the following months: March, May, June, September, November 2027; January and March 2028.

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.

For the purposes of assessment, the use of AI is prohibited. Any use of AI constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

Slides power-point.

Office hours

See the website of Yvonne Huetter-Almerigi

See the website of Giorgio Volpe