00386 - Philosophy of Language

Academic Year 2008/2009

  • Docente: Paolo Leonardi
  • Credits: 10
  • SSD: M-FIL/05
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in DAMS - Drama, Art and Music Studies (cod. 0343)

Learning outcomes

Knowledge of some of some contemporary views on philosophy and on philosophy of language.

Course contents

In meaning there are different perspectives: that of the meaning subject, that of the object meant, that of the subject whom it is meant to. I'll go over the discussion on the topic in the last 120 years, but will start from some ancient position such as that of Plato in the Cratylus.

I'll refer mainly to Gottlob Frege, Bertrand Russell, Ludwig Wittgenstein, John L. Austin, Paul Grice, Willard V.O. Quine, Donald Davidson, Michael Dummett, Saul Kripke, Hilary Putnam, Keith Donnellan, John Searle, Robert Brandom, Tyler Burge.

Readings/Bibliography

Filosofia del linguaggio, Paolo Casalegno et al., eds. (Milano Cortina 2003).
Hilary Putnam "Il significato di 'significato'" (in Mente, linguaggio e realtà Torino Adelphi 1987, pp. 239-97).
Other references will be given in class.

All the texts are available also in English.

Teaching methods

Lecture with discussion.

Assessment methods

Written exam. The topic of the exam will be indicated at the end of the class at the web page http://www-utenti.dsc.unibo.it/%7Eleonardi/, and has to be sent in by mail one week in advance of discussion.

Teaching tools

On line materials at http://www-utenti.dsc.unibo.it/%7Eleonardi/programmi/annoincorso.html

Links to further information

http://www-utenti.dsc.unibo.it/%7Eleonardi/programmi/annoincorso.html

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Leonardi