Philosophy of Language

MA - Philosophy of Language

The study of language has given rise to distinctive philosophical problems that became central to Western philosophy at the end of the nineteenth century and dominated much discussion during the twentieth century. In recent years, the scientific study of language has flourished in linguistics and psychology, bringing to light related topics of philosophical interest. There is interest in both the properties and nature of natural languages, as well as various metaphysical and epistemological issues arising from the study of language. The course addresses a range of these issues including: the nature of meaning; the relation between words and objects; the distinction between naming and describing; the relation between meaning and truth; the connection between speakers and their languages, the extent and nature of speakers’ knowledge of their language, and the ways the use of language affects the meanings conveyed by utterances.