REFERENCE AND MEANING
Text
A.P. Martinich (ed.), The Philosophy
of Language, Third Edition (Oxford U.P.)
WGL’s office hours
Tuesdays, 1:30 - 4:00 p.m., or by appointment;
Caldwell Hall 215B.
E mail: ujanel@isis.unc.edu.
Course web site: www.unc.edu/~ujanel/74Main.htm.
Written work
There will be four short papers (ca.
1200 words) during the semester, due on September 25, October 16, November
6, and December 4. Topics will be of your own choosing; I will pass
around lists of suggestions. If you like, you may substitute one
double paper (2400 words) for two of the shorter ones.
Final examination: You may take
a fake final, for 0.1% of your grade, or you may take a “Sowder”
final.
Syllabus
Items in brackets are merely recommended
reading. An asterisk means an item not in Martinich; asterisked readings
will be handed out in class.
August 28: Introduction to meaning and reference.
REFERENCE AND REFERRING EXPRESSIONS
September 4: Russell, “On Denoting” and “Descriptions.” Strawson, “On Referring.” [Frege, “On Sense and Nominatum.”]
September 11: Donnellan, “Reference and Definite Descriptions.” Searle, “Proper Names.”
September 18: Kripke, excerpts from “Naming and Necessity.”
September 25: Evans, “The Causal Theory of Names.” [Searle, “Proper Names and Intentionality.”] Paper #1 due.
October 2: Putnam, “Meaning and Reference.”
[Kaplan, “Dthat.”]
THEORIES OF MEANING
October 9: *Wittgenstein, excerpts from Philosophical Investigations.
October 16: Hempel, “Empiricist Criteria of Cognitive Significance: Problems and Changes.” [Quine, “Two Dogmas of Empiricism.” Quine, “Meaning.”] Paper #2 due.
October 30: Grice, “Meaning.” *Grice, “Utterer’s Meaning and Intentions.”
November 6: *Lycan, Philosophy of Language, Ch. 9. Davidson, “Truth and Meaning.” [Tarski, “The Semantic Conception of Truth and the Foundations of Semantics.”] Paper #3 due.
November 13: Strawson, “Meaning and Truth.” Davidson, “A Nice Derangement of Epitaphs.” [Lewis, “Languages and Language.”]
November 20: Church, “Intensional Semantics.” *Lycan, Philosophy of Language, Ch. 10.
December 4: Austin, “Performative Utterances.”
*Selections from How to Do Things with Words. [Searle, “What
Is a Speech Act?”] Paper #4 due.
Final exam, Tuesday, December 16, 12:00 noon.
Honor code
The Chancellor has asked faculty to include the following statement in all course syllabi.
The Honor Code prohibits lying, cheating or stealing when these actions involve academic processes or University, student or academic personnel acting in an official capacity. The Campus Code requires students to conduct themselves in such ways as not to impair the welfare or the educational opportunities of others in the University community. As a UNC student, you have accepted a commitment to the Honor Code and the Campus Code, and the principles of academic integrity, personal honesty, and responsible citizenship on which they were founded more than 100 years ago.I endorse this statement emphatically. Thank you.
Academic dishonesty in any form is unacceptable, because it circumvents the purpose of the University’s life and work. As a faculty member, I have a responsibility to report any possible Honor Code violations to the Student Attorney General. I trust that you will join me in supporting the Honor Code by signing the Honor Pledge on all written work, and by consulting me if you are uncertain about your responsibilities within this course.