PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE
PHIL 425, Sec. 1001: MW 1pm-2:15pm in CBC C146
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Spring 2022


Professor: James Woodbridge
email address:
Course Webpage: http://jwood.faculty.unlv.edu/unlv/Phil425S22.htm
Office Hours:  T 12:30pm-2pm, W 2:30pm-4pm, and by appointment
Office: CDC 426
Office Phone: 895-4051
Dept. Phone: 895-3433

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course provides an introduction to analytic philosophy of language by examining a number of topics emphasized in the twentieth century. These topics include speech-act theory and intention-based accounts of meaning, Frege's distinction between sense and reference, Russell's theory of descriptions, descriptive and causal theories of reference, linguistics perspectives on the innateness or social basis of language, truth-conditional semantics, possible-worlds semantics, inferentialism, and the normativity of meaning and ensuing skeptical worries. Among the thinkers we will study are Gottlob Frege, Bertrand Russell, Ludwig Wittgenstein, J. L. Austin, H. P. Grice, Noam Chomsky, Donald Davidson, Saul Kripke, and Robert Brandom.

Learning Objectives:
To demonstrate knowledge about central problems in the philosophy of language, as well as some
     related metaphysics and logic
Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:
     Identify central issues or debates in philosophy of language,
     Articulate and, when appropriate, compare or contrast, different views that might be taken with
          respect to these issues,
     Summarize major motivations or arguments for these alternative positions,
     Present significant objections that have or could be raised to these positions,
     Assess the relative merits of these arguments and objections.

II. REQUIRED CLASS MATERIALS

Books:
Kemp, G. What Is This Thing Called Philosophy of Language? Second Edition. New York: Routledge
     Publishing, 2018.
Stainton, R. (ed.) Perspectives in the Philosophy of Language: A Concise Anthology. Peterborough,
     ON: Broadview Press, 2000.

The books for the course are available at The UNLV Bookstore.

There will also be several online readings available via WebCampus/Canvas.


III. CLASS REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING SCHEME

Requirements.............................................Percent of Final Grade
Class Participation......................................................10%
First Paper...................................................................30%
Second Paper...............................................................30%
Final Exam..................................................................30%

About the Requirements:

Class Participation--This requirement covers a couple of things things. First, there is your contribution during class. This involves more than just attending; it requires having read the assignment for the day and being ready to talk about it. Not everyone will be able to attend the in-person meetings or attend remote meetings live. These people can participate by posting frequently on the Electronic Discussion Board (accessible through WebCampus/Canvas). Everyone must make at least six contributions to the EDB during the term: three before March 15th and three after. Posting more than the minimum amounts to greater participation.

The First Paper--There will be a 6-8 page paper due in mid March. Paper topics will be distributed 12 days before the paper is due.

The Second Paper--There will be a second 6-8 page paper due in late April. Again, topics will be distributed 12 days before the paper is due.

The Final Exam--There will be a timed (2 hour), online final exam given on Monday, May 9, 2022 at 1pm via WebCampus/Canvas. The final will consist of a choice of essay questions.

Note: All course requirements must be satisfactorily completed in order to pass the course.

IV. CLASS FORMAT

This is an upper-level philosophy course, so while I will present a lot of the material, our class meetings should also include a lot of student discussion, not just lectures. I hope that you will all have views about the theories we are going to examine, and I want you to express and explore those views whenever possible. It is typical of philosophical topics that people's views on them will differ. You are encouraged to question your classmates (and me) whenever anyone says something you disagree with, but on either side of this sort of exchange, everyone should always keep in mind that expressing disagreement is not a personal attack. Philosophical discussion thrives under this kind of interaction and often stems from disagreement. At the same time, philosophical discussion aims at reaching some sort of agreement. We probably won't reach agreement every time, but we should aspire towards it.

V. CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE

In recent years it has become necessary to make a further comment about classroom etiquette. Engaging in activities like text messaging, surfing the web, checking Facebook, tweeting, Snapchatting, etc. during class is entirely inappropriate. In fact, it is extremely rude and highly disrespectful of our joint enterprise of teaching and learning. Whether you are sitting in the back and presume you are not interfering with anyone else is irrelevant. It is not a question of what you are caught doing; it is a matter of what you do, noticed or not. I expect everyone to behave appropriately during class, engaging with our cooperative project and refraining from inappropriate activities at all times.

V. TOPICS AND READINGS

Readings from the Kemp textbook are listed by his name and the chapter number. Readings from the Stainton anthology, Perspectives in the Philosophy of Language, are indicated by article author, selection title, and "PPL" followed by chapter number, in parentheses. Online readings are labeled as such.

A note about the readings: As you well know, philosophical writing is often subtle and difficult. This is especially true of the reading assignments for this course, many of which are also somewhat technical; most of them should be read at least twice. It also helps to take notes on separate paper while reading.
The course units and readings for them are as follows.

0. Preliminaries

Kemp, G. "Introduction"
1. Speech Acts, Intention, and Meaning
Austin, J. L. "Performative Utterances" (PPL 11)
Austin, "Lecture VIII" from How to Do Things with Words (online)
Kemp, Chapter 7
Kukla, R. "Performative Force, Convention, and Discursive Injustice" (online)
Grice, H. P. "Meaning" (PPL 6)
Grice, "Logic and Conversation" (PPL 13)
2. Meaning: Sense and Reference
Kemp, Chapter 1
Elbourne, P. "Definitions" and "What are Word Meanings?" Chs. 1 and 2 of
     Meaning: A Slim Guide to Semantics (online)
Wittgenstein, L. "Remarks 1-33, 65-77" from Philosophical Investigations (online)
Frege, G. "Ueber Sinn und Bedeutung (On Sense and Reference)" (PPL 2)
Frege, "The Thought: A Logical Inquiry" (online)
Kemp, Chapter 2
Russell, B. "On Denoting" (online)
Russell, "Descriptions" (PPL 3)
Kemp, Chapter 3
Kripke, S. "From Naming and Necessity" (online)
Kemp, Chapter 5
Putnam, H. "Meaning and Reference" (online)
Kemp, Chapter 6
3. Linguistics: Language as Innate vs. Social Practice
Chomsky, N. "Knowledge of Language: Its Nature, Origin and Use" (PPL 1)
Tomasello, M. “The Social Bases of Language Acquisition” (online)
4. Theories of Meaning: Truth-Conditional, Possible Worlds, Inferentialist
Davidson, D. "Truth and Meaning" (PPL 4)
Kemp, Chapter 9
Soames, S. "Truth, Meaning, and Understanding" (online)
Elbourne, "What are Sentence Meanings?" Ch. 4 of Meaning: A Slim Guide to
     Semantics (online)
Peregrin, J. "What is Inferentialism?" (online)
Brandom, R. "Objectivity and the Normative Fine Structure of Rationality," Ch. 6
     from Articulating Reasons (online)
5. Meaning, Normativity, and Rule-Following
Wittgenstein, "From Philosophical Investigations" (PPL 10)
Kemp, Chapter 11
Kripke, "From Wittgenstein on Rules and Private Language" (online)
*The instructor of this course reserves the right to change any aspect of the syllabus, with the understanding that any such changes will be announced in class.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas Additional Information/Policies

Public Health Directives
Face coverings are mandatory for all faculty and students in the classroom. Students must follow all active UNLV public health directives while enrolled in this class. UNLV public health directives are found at https://www.unlv.edu/coronavirus/health-requirements. Students who do not comply with these directives may be asked to leave the classroom. Refusal to follow the guidelines may result in further disciplinary action according to the UNLV Student Conduct Code, https://www.unlv.edu/sites/default/files/page_files/27/StudentConduct-Code.pdf, including being administratively withdrawn from the course.

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Final Examinations
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Library Resources
Librarians are available to consult with students on research needs, including developing research topics, finding information, and evaluating sources. To make an appointment with a subject expert for this class, please visit the Libraries’ Research Consultation website, https://guides.library.unlv.edu/appointments/librarian. You can also ask the library staff questions via chat and text message at https://ask.library.unlv.edu/.

Missed Classwork
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In accordance with the policy approved by the Faculty Senate regarding missed class time and assignments, students who represent UNLV in any official extracurricular activity will also have the opportunity to make up assignments, provided that the student submits official written notification to the instructor no less than one week prior to the missed class(es).
The spirit and intent of the policy for missed classwork is to offer fair and equitable assessment opportunities to all students, including those representing the University in extracurricular activities. Instructors should consider, for example, that in courses which offer a "Drop one" option for the lowest assignment, quiz, or exam, assigning the student a grade of zero for an excused absence for extracurricular activity is both contrary to the intent of the Faculty Senate's policy, and an infringement on the student's right to complete all work for the course.
This policy will not apply in the event that completing the assignment or administering the examination at an alternate time would impose an undue hardship on the instructor or the University that could be reasonably avoided. There should be a good faith effort by both the instructor and the student to agree to a reasonable resolution. When disagreements regarding this policy arise, decisions can be appealed to the Department Chair/School Director, College/School Dean, and/or the Faculty Senate Academic Standards Committee.
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