![[image of Gottlob Frege]](images/Frege.jpg)
Gottlob Frege (1848-1925)
Back
Offered Spring 2004
V83.0085-001
MW 4:55-6:10
570 Waverly
Professor:
Gary Ostertag
Office:
503 Silver Center
Hours:
W 6:15-7:15, and by appointment
TA:
Declan Smithies
Office:
503 Silver Center
Hours:
F 1-2, and by appointment
Course Description
The course provides an introduction to analytical philosophy of language by focusing on a number of fundamental topics. We begin by discussing various accounts of the nature of meaning; we then turn to the theory of descriptions and, finally, the theory of reference. Along the way we'll discuss such topics as: logical vs. grammatical form; the theory of speech acts; the nature of linguistic context-sensitivity, the semantics-pragmatics distinction, etc.
Evaluation
Evaluation will be based upon three or four short papers and a final examination
Plagiarism
Any work that is submitted as your own but written in whole or in part by someone else counts as plagiarism. Plagiarism results in an F for the course and is subject to further disciplinary action.
Schedule of Readings and Assignments
Required Texts:
Ayer, Language, Truth and Logic. Dover.
Ostertag, Definite Descriptions: A Reader. MIT Press.
Richard, Meaning. Blackwell.
Stainton, Perspectives in the Philosophy of Language. Broadview Press
Optional:
Soames, Philosophical Analysis in the Twentieth Century, Volume 1: The Dawn of Analysis. Princeton University Press.
Reserve List:
Soames, Philosophical Analysis in the Twentieth Century, Volume 2: The Age of Meaning.
All texts (besides Ayer and Richard) are on reserve; Richard is in Reference.