Master in Cognitive Science and Humanities 2016-2017 History of Philosophy and Language Theory (3 ects)

Master in Cognitive Science and Humanities

2016-2017

History of Philosophy and Language Theory (3 ects)

Jesus M. Larrazabal ([e-mail])

Jonathan Lavilla de Lera ([e-mail])

Aim and Competences

 a. Good knowledge of the philosophical reflection on language, from Sophists and Plato until the beginning of Semantics and Pragmatics.

b. By engaging in constructive discussion and by critically evaluating the main philosophical theses and arguments in that field, students will improve the capacity to communicate ideas clearly and concisely in both written and verbal form.

c. Improvement of analytical skills oriented to the links among philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, philosophy of logic, ontology, formal semantics, and pragmatics.

SYLLABUS (subject to possible amendment)

1. 
   The Sophistic Movement. Gorgias’ On the Non-Existent (Peri tou me ontos) and Encomium of Helen.
   
2. 
   Self-Reflection on the role of the poet. A Metatheatrical reading of Euripides’ Helen.
   
3. 
   Naturalism vs. Conventionalism. Plato’s Cratylus and the correctness of names (onomata).
   
4. 
   Aristotle on Language: On Interpretration (Peri Hermeneias) and Categories (Kategoriai).
   
5. 
   Rationalism and Empiricism. The Port-Royal Grammar. Locke’s Essay concerning Human Understanding (Book III). Leibniz’s New Essays (Book III).
   
6. 
   John Stuart Mill’s System of Logic (Book I).
   
7. 
   Wittgenstein on Language.
   
8. 
   Chomsky’s conception of language.
   

Bibliography

Basic bibliography

Barnes, J. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle. Cambridge: C.U.P., 1995.

Chappell, V. C. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Locke. Cambridge: C.U.P., 1999.

Chomsky, N., Cartesian Linguistics. New York: Harper, 1966.

Chomsky, N., Language and Mind. New York: Harcourt, 1968.

Chomsky, N., Reflections on language. New York: Pantheon Books, Random, 1975.

Cooke, H. C.; Tredennick, H. (eds.), Aristotle, The categories; On interpretation [Edited with Translation and Notes by H. C. Cooke & H. Tredennick]. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1983.

Fowler, H. N. (ed.), Plato in twelve volumes: Cratylus; Parmenides; Greater Hippias; Lesser Hippias. 4^th Volume [Edited with Translation and Notes by H. N. Fowler]. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1977.

Griffin, N. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Russell. Cambridge: C.U.P., 2003.

Jolley, N. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Leibniz. Cambridge: C.U.P., 1995.

Kraut, R. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Plato. Cambridge: C.U.P., 1992.

Leibniz. G. W., New Essays on Human Understanding.

Locke, J., An Essay concerning Human Understanding.

Losonsky, M., Linguistic Turns in Modern Philosophy. Cambridge: C.U.P., 2006.

MacDowell, D. M. (ed.). Gorgias, The encomium of Helen [Edited with an Introduction, Notes and Translation by D. M. MacDowell]. Bristol: Bristol Classical Press, 1982.

McGilvray, J. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Chomsky. Cambridge: C.U.P., 2005.

Mill, J. S., A System of Logic.

Quine, W. V.O., Word and Object. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1960.

Robins, R., A short history of linguistics. London: Longman, 1967 (4^th edition)

Sanders, C. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Saussure. Cambridge: C.U.P, 2004.

Skorupski, J. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Mill. Cambridge: C.U.P, 1998.

Sluga, H. and Stern, D. (eds.), The Cambridge Companion to Wittgenstein. Cambridge: C.U.P, 1996.

Way, A. S. (ed.), Euripides: Iphigenia at Aulis; Rhesus; Hecuba; the daughters of Troy; Helen [Edited with Translation and Notes by A. S. Way]. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1912.

Advanced bibliography

Ademollo, A. The Cratylus of Plato: A Commentary. Cambridge: C.U.P., 2011.

Arodino, F., I fondamenti della riflessione di Platone sul linguaggio: Il Cratilo. Roma: Edizioni di storia e Letteratura, 2011.

Austin, J, Philosophical Papers. Oxford: O.U.P, 1961.

Cauquelin, A. Aristote : le langage. Paris : P.U.F., 1990.

Cassin, B. (ed.), Le plaisir de parler : études de sophistique comparée. Paris : Éditions de Minuit, 1986.

Cassin, B., L’effet sophistique. Paris: Gallimard, 1995.

Devitt, M. and R. Halley (eds.), The Blackwell guide to the philosophy of language. Oxford: Blackwell, 2006.

De Saussure, F., Cours de Linguistique Générale. Ed. critique par T. de Mauro. Paris : Payot, 1973

Hookway, C., Peirce. London: Routledge. 1985.

Kerferd, G.B., The Sophistic Movement. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981.

Korta, K. and J. Perry, Pragmatics. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2006.

Lepschy, G. (ed.), History of Linguistics. London: Longman, 1994.

Lo Piparo, F., Aristotele e il linguaggio. Cosa fa di una lingua una lingua. Bari: Laterza, 2003.

Mounin, G., Histoire de la lingüistique. Des origines au XXe siècle. Paris: P.U.F., 1967.

Peirce, C. S., Collected Papers. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap, from 1931 on.

Wittgenstein, L., Tractatus logico-philosophicus.

Wittgenstein, L., Philosophical Grammar.

Wittgenstein, L., Philosophical Investigations.

Requirements

Students are required to attend all lectures and seminars and they must submit two short essays (mid-November, mid-December) and to prepare one seminar presentation (maximum 30 minutes). Seminar presentations will consist in answering questions and discussing topics which will appear during the course on HPLT, as well as reading and making comments on philosophical papers connected to the content of the syllabus.

Evaluation and Grading

Active participation by students will be required, both in the lectures and in the seminars. Specific readings for each topic could be assigned. Students will be expected to read them and then to contribute actively in the classroom. Students will also be required to prepare seminar presentations and to write two short essays during the course of HPLT. Final examination: Take-home final.

 30% short essays + 30% seminar presentation + 40% take-home final.