PHIL 331
Te Reo me te Ao
Language and the World
There are many philosophical puzzles about the nature of language and its relation to reality. How does a word come to refer to a thing? What does it mean for someone to understand a word? Does our language determine the way that we see the world? How does context affect our understanding of what others say? What is the relationship between metaphor and literal discourse? In this course you will develop critical thinking skills while exploring such complex philosophical questions concerning language.
About this course
This course deals with the relationship between language and the human mind: how do we understand language and is there an innate language facility? It also deals with the relationship between language and things: How do words refer to things? In addition, we will discuss other issues regarding language such as the nature of metaphor.
This course is delivered primarily on campus, with online accessibility. Most students will attend on campus, however the course can be completed online if necessary. If you intend to attend mostly on campus, please enrol in the offering CRN 1054.
Course learning objectives
Students who pass this course will be able to:
1. Understand and explain the central theories of reference and meaning of 20th and 21st Century philosophy.
2. Construct arguments to reject or support some of these theories.
3. Understand the problems of metaphor, indirect speech acts, and truth and explain their importance for philosophy of language and for philosophy more generally.