Date
|
Contents
|
Reading
Assignments
|
|
Jan. 26 (W)
|
Introduction /
Methodological frame / Conceptual distinctions
|
None
|
|
Part 1 Language
and Objects: What Language is About
|
|
Jan. 31 (M)
|
Frege on Sense
and Reference
|
CR:
(1)
|
|
Feb. 2 (W)
|
Reference and
Descriptions (1): Russell�s Theory of Descriptions
|
CR:
(2); PL: Ch.2 [pp.12-21]
|
|
Feb. 7 (M)
|
Reference and
Descriptions (2): Challenges to Russell�s Theory of Descriptions
|
CR:
(20), (21); PL: Ch.2 [pp.21- 33]
|
|
Feb. 9 (W)
|
Reference and
Names (1): The Description Theory
|
CR:
(3), (6), (4) [pp.272-281]; PL: Ch.3
|
|
Feb. 14 (M)
|
Reference and
Names (2): The Causal Theory
|
CR:
(4) [pp.272-281], (5); PL: Ch.4
|
|
Feb. 16 (W)
|
Intro to
Object-Oriented Approaches to Meaning: (1) Proposition Theory;
|
PL:
Ch.5, pp.80-86
|
|
Feb. 21 (M)
|
Truth as
Semantic Relation between Language and Reality: Tarski�s approach
|
CR:
(7)
|
|
Feb. 23 (W)
|
Object-Oriented
Approaches to Meaning (2): Davidson�s Truth-Condition Theory
|
CR:
(8); PL: Ch.9 [pp.131-139]
|
|
Feb. 28 (M)
|
Object-Oriented
Approaches to Meaning (2): Davidson�s Truth-Condition Theory-Objections
and Defenses
|
PL:
Ch.9 [pp.140-147]
|
|
March 2 (W)
|
Language and
Social Reality
|
CR:
(9)
|
|
March 7 (M)
|
John
Searle�s Colloquium Talk �How Humans Create a Social Reality�
|
Time &
Place: King Library, Conference Room 225, 4:30 pm
|
|
March 9 (W)
|
Confucius�
and Gongsun Long�s accounts of rectification of names
|
handout
|
|
March 14 (M)
|
A thick-object
account of how correspondence between language and reality is possible
|
handout
|
|
Part 2 Language
and Thought: What Language is For
|
|
March 16 (W)
|
Can Language
Expresses Thought (1): Wittgenstein
|
CR:
(10)
|
|
March 21 (M)
|
Can Language
Expresses Thought (2): Lao Zi
|
handout
|
|
March 23
(W): Midterm Exam
|
|
April 4 (M)
|
Idea
Approaches to Meaning (1): Metal-Image Theory / Mental-State Theory
|
CR:
(11), (12); PL: Ch.5 and Ch.7
|
|
April 6 (W)
|
Idea
Approaches to Meaning (2): �Language of Thought� Theory
|
handout
|
|
April 11 (M)
|
Interpretation
and Translation (1): Quine on Radical Translation
|
CR:
(13)
|
|
April 13 (W)
|
Interpretation
and Translation (2): Davidson on Radical Interpretation
|
CR:
(14)
|
|
April 18 (M)
|
Wittgenstein
on Private Language
|
CR:
(15)
|
|
Part 3 Language
in Action: What Speakers Do with Language
|
|
April 20 (W)
|
�Use�
Approach to Meaning: �Use� Theory
|
CR:
(16); PL: Ch.6
|
|
April 25 (M)
|
Speech Act
Theory (1)
|
CR:
(17), (18); PL: Ch.12
|
|
April 27 (W)
|
Speech Act
Theory (2)
|
CR:
(19)
|
|
May 2 (M)
|
A Pragmatic
Theory of Language in the Context of Chinese Philosophy
|
handout
|
|
Part 4 Language
and Logic: Structure of
Language and Reasoning Embedded in Language
|
|
May 4 (W)
|
Do Different
Natural Languages Share the Same Structure
|
CR: (22), (23)
|
|
May 9 (M)
|
Reasoning
embedded in Natural Language(s)
|
handout
|
|
May 11 (W)
|
Discussion
Forum
|
|
|
May 16 (M)
|
Review for
Final
|
|
|
May 16 (M):
Term paper due in class
|
|
May 24
(Tuesday): 12:15 � 14:30: Final Examination
|
|
Note:
The
above schedule is for guidance only and may change in the event of
extenuating circumstances.
|
