Philosophy of Language covers a range of advanced topics in philosophy of language. In any given year of delivery several of the following topics will be addressed in detail: sense and reference, meaning theories, context-sensitivity, naturalized semantics. Several of the following topics will also be addressed (but the focus can vary from year to year depending on the interests of the participants): compositionality, objectivity of meaning, verificationism, Quine's theses of the indeterminacy of meaning and the inscrutability of reference, holism, interpretationism, `use theories' of meaning, linguistic conventions, semantic realism and anti-realism, tacit meaning-theoretic knowledge, vagueness, conceptual role semantics, quantification, situation semantics, two-dimensional semantics, non-extensional contexts, demonstratives, pragmatics.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module the student should be able to:
demonstrate a thorough familiarity and understanding of the areas of philosophy of language covered by the module (see above).
manifest expertise in the philosophical skills required for productive independent research on these topics, such as the ability to find, interpret and analyse difficult (sometimes technical) texts, the ability to construct rigorous arguments concerning these issues, and the ability to analyse and criticise others' arguments.
communicate results of interpretation, anaysis and independent research (observing the appropriate academic conventions) in writing.
Assessment
23155-01 : Overall Mark : Coursework (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions
Assessments:
One 4,000 word essay (worth 100%)
OR
2 x 2,000 word essays (worth 50% each)
Reassessment: Resit failed component(s) if this results in failure of the module as a whole. As per assessment method originally chosen.
