Language & Mind - PHI00046H

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  • Department: Philosophy
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Stephen Everson
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2018-19
    • See module specification for other years: 2017-18

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching cycle
A Autumn Term 2018-19

Module aims

We shall be considering topics that sit at the intersection of Philosophy of Mind and Language: centrally, we shall be focusing on what account is to be given of a speaker's ability to understand a language but will lead up to this by looking at such topics as truth (and theories of truth), reference, and sense.

Module learning outcomes

Students will have developed their philosophical skills so as to have understood various accounts of central topics in the Philosophy of Language and, by critically engaging with those accounts, to have developed their own views on how understanding a language is to be explained.

Module content

We shall be looking at work by Frege, as well as by Strawson, Davidson, Dummet and John McDowell.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 100

Module feedback

The students will get feedback on their summative essay with 4 weeks of submitting it.

Indicative reading

Donald Davidson, Inquiries into Truth and Interpretation

Michael Dummett, The Seas of Language

John McDowell, Meaning, Knowledge, and Reality


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.