Philosophy of Language - 1st semester
Code
711031055
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Filosofia
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
António de Castro Caeiro
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a) To identify the various aspects involved in phenomenological description of
language.
b) Succinct knowledge of the relations and intersections between the study of
contemporary Linguistics and Philosophy of Language.
c) Knowledge of the main philosophical problems raised by language.
d) Identification of the most relevant connections of Philosophy of Language with
Ontology, Anthropology and Philosophy of Knowledge.
Prerequisites
Not applicable
Subject matter
Once we clarified the notion of meaning and reference in contemporary tradition, both in Frege and Husserl, we will move to its development in Wittgenstein’s both Tractatus and Philosophical investigations. What are the takes of the so called analytical tradition on language? On the other hand, Husserls’ and Heidegger’s take on meaning (Sinn) lead somewhat to different approaches. We want to present the radical approach on language that Heidegger took.
Key words: Meaning (Sinn), reference (Bedeutung), expression, private language, speech games, words, connotation, denotation, literal meaning, figurative meaning.
Bibliography
Frege. Funktion, Begriff, Bedeutung, Fünf logische Studien, Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, 2008.
Heidegger. Sein und Zeit, 11ªed, Max Niemeyer Verlag, Tübingen, 1967.
Unterwegs Zur Sprache. V. Klostermann, 1985.
Wittgenstein. “Tractatus lógico-philosophicus” in Werkausgabe, Band1, Suhrkamp Verlag, Frankfurt am Main, 1984, pp. 7-86.
“Philosophische Unteruschungen” in Werkausgabe, Band1, Suhrkamp Verlag, Frankfurt am Main, pp. 225-580.
Versões portuguesas serão apresentadas na primeira sessão.
Portuguese translations will be presented in the first session.
Teaching method
Lectures; analysis and discussion of texts.
In class teaching
Evaluation method
The student can choose among the following possibilities: a) one or two oral
reports, with prior information concerning the topic [weighting factor: 20%, each]
+ a written test; or, b) a paper [weighting factor: 40%] + a written test; or, c) only a
written test.