Philosophy of Language
| Module title | Philosophy of Language |
|---|---|
| Module code | PHL2018 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Shane Glackin (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
This module will introduce you to one of the dominant contemporary traditions in philosophy. The Anglo-American analytic tradition places great emphasis upon understanding how language works, seeing the possibility of speaking meaningfully as an essential precursor to any philosophical endeavour. The module will provide you with a grounding in the basic philosophical approaches to meaning and reference, and in the canonical debates on these topics over the last hundred years, including the work of Frege, Quine, the verificationists, and the Ordinary Language philosophers.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module seeks to familiarise you with the central place that philosophy of language occupies in contemporary analytic philosophy, with the influential positions that have been adopted by major figures in the field, and with the key points of the debates between them. You will gain a thorough overview of the philosophy of language, and the grounding necessary for more advanced study in analytic philosophy.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Develop an understanding of the subject matter, concerns, and methodology of philosophy of language.
- 2. Critically analyse the notions of meaning and reference.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Understand the central position of philosophy of language in contemporary analytic philosophy.
- 4. Apply the tools of conceptual and linguistic analysis in all areas of philosophy.
- 5. Evaluate the claims made by other philosophical disciplines and traditions which hinge on theories of meaning or language.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Communicate complex ideas in clear and precise written and verbal form.
- 7. Construct, evaluate, and criticise arguments.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
Gottlob Frege on Sense and Reference
Bertrand Russell and the Theory of Definite Descriptions
Causal Theories of Reference; Kripke and Putnam
Verificationism and Meaning; Logical Positivism and Dummett
Scepticism about Meaning 1; Quine on Analyticity and Meaning Holism
Meaning as Intention 1; Speech Acts
Meaning as Intention 2; Gricean Implicature
Meaning and Truth; Davidson and Tarski
Meaning and Metaphor
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 22 | Weekly 2-hour lectures/seminars or 1 hour lecture + 1 hour seminar |
| Guided Independent Study | 40 | Assigned readings associated with |
| Guided Independent Study | 44 | Preparation of Assigned Essay |
| Guided Independent Study | 44 | Private Study for Exam |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 50 | 1,875 words | 1-7 | Written feedback |
| Essay | 50 | 1,875 words | 1-7 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (1,875 words) | 1-7 | August/September reassessment Period |
| Essay | Essay (1,875 words) | 1-7 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
The majority of the course readings may be found in A. P. Martinich (2010), The Philosophy of Language (International 5th Edition). An e-copy of this text will be available through the library.
Two useful textbooks are William Lycan (2008), Philosophy of Language: A Contemporary Introduction and Alexander Miller (2007), Philosophy of Language.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE
Lecture slides and any readings not found in the Martinich volume will be available on the module’s ELE page.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 19/6/2013 |
| Last revision date | 02/03/2022 |
