PHIL336 An Introduction to the Philosophy of Language (Advanced)

An introduction to the foundational works in the philosophical study of language, including Frege and Russell on sense and reference, logical positivism, Moore on moral language, and Quine on analyticity.

This paper is ideal both for the serious philosophy student who wants to get to grips with the most important analytic philosophers of the first half of the 20th century and for the student who wishes to get a sense of what 20th-century analytic philosophy of language involves. The paper is taught by Professor Alex Miller, the author of one of the world's leading textbooks on the philosophy of language.

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Prerequisite

One 200-level PHIL paper

Restriction

PHIL 236

Schedule C

Arts and Music

Contact

alex.miller@otago.ac.nz

More information link

View more information on the Department of Philosophy's website

Teaching staff

Professor Alex Miller

Paper Structure

Assessment:

• Two 3,500-word essays, each worth 20% each
• Exam 60%

Teaching Arrangements

Two 2-hour lectures/seminars per week

Textbooks

Alexander Miller, Philosophy of Language (2nd edition Routledge 2007)

A.J. Ayer, Language, Truth and Logic (Dover Books 1946, or any other available edition)

Graduate Attributes Emphasised

Scholarship, Critical thinking, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the paper, PHIL 336 students will acquire

1. The ability to make philosophical analyses and to present and assess philosophical arguments to a high standard
2. The ability to grasp and critically discuss central issues in philosophy of language
3. A demonstrated ability to explain and assess philosophical positions and arguments in their own words
4. An ability to adopt and defend their own position in debates in the philosophy of language
5. An ability to apply central concepts of philosophy of language to philosophical debates in other areas

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