Philosophy of Language (PHIL 445/001)
Instructor: Dorit Bar-On. This seminar meets Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. in Caldwell 213.
This course is a rigorous introduction to the philosophy of language, aimed at introducing graduate students, as well as advanced undergraduate students, to methods employed by philosophers of language, and to issues that concern the relationship between language and minds (Part I) and between language and the world (Part II). Time permitting, we will also be covering issues concerning the differences between language and animal communication systems, and language evolution.
In addition to elementary logic (which will be necessary for understanding a significant portion of the readings), students must have taken at least one philosophy course that covered topics in metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of mind. Some background in linguistics would be helpful.
Dorit Bar-On’s webpage