Theories of Language and the Mind
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course aims at providing students with a general understanding of issues concerning the study of language and mind. The acquired notions are useful for both communication-related activities and activities of redacting texts.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student
- masters the basic concepts and fundamental themes characterising philosophy of language and philosophy of mind
- has a general knowledge of the contemporary debate on language and mind, on the nature of mind and on the relations between mental states and physical realities.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student can address issues concerning language and mind in a rigorous way and can critically analyze linguistic practices.
Moreover, the student can sketch the state of the art of the study of language and mind and of the relation between language and thought.
At the end of the course, the student
- masters the basic concepts and fundamental themes characterising philosophy of language and philosophy of mind
- has a general knowledge of the contemporary debate on language and mind, on the nature of mind and on the relations between mental states and physical realities.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student can address issues concerning language and mind in a rigorous way and can critically analyze linguistic practices.
Moreover, the student can sketch the state of the art of the study of language and mind and of the relation between language and thought.
Lesson period: Activity scheduled over several sessions (see Course syllabus and organization section for more detailed information).
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
A
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Philosophers of mind ask very general questions about the mind. Examples include: What are mental states like perceptions, emotions, sensations or thoughts? Are they states of the physical brain or of a nonphysical soul? What is consciousness? How can states of mind be about (or represent) things outside the mind? The course is an introduction to the contemporary debate which these questions raise.
There are no additional didactic activities or trainings.
There are no additional didactic activities or trainings.
Prerequisites for admission
Level B1 in English.
Teaching methods
- Lectures
- Discussion of questions by either the students or the teacher
- Discussion of questions by either the students or the teacher
Teaching Resources
Exam program for attending and non-attending students:
Assignments for both 6 ECTS and 9 ECTS exams:
(a) Ravenscroft, I. (2005), Philosophy of Mind. A Beginner's Guide, Oxford, Oxford University Press - capitoli 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 e 8
(b) C. G. Hempel (1949), "The Logical Analysis of Psychology", ristampato in N. Block, Readings in Philosophy of Psychology, vol. 1, Cambridge MA, Harvard University Press, pp. 14-23
(c) D. M. Armstrong (1966), "The Nature of Mind", Arts: Proceedings of the Sydney University Arts Association 3, pp. 37-48 [tr. it. "La natura della mente", in A. De Palma e G. Pareti (a cura di), Mente e corpo. Dai dilemmi della filosofia alle ipotesi della neuroscienza, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri 2015, pp. 46-62]
(d) H. Putnam (1967), "Psychological Predicates", ristampato con il titolo "The Nature of Mental States", in Id., Philosophical Papers II, 1975, pp. 429-440 [tr. it. "La natura degli stati mentali", in A. De Palma e G. Pareti (a cura di), Mente e corpo. Dai dilemmi della filosofia alle ipotesi della neuroscienza, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri 2015, pp. 63-78]
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exams:
(e) Ravenscroft, I. (2005), Philosophy of Mind. A Beginner's Guide, Oxford, Oxford University Press - cap. 9, 10, 11 e 12
(f) F. Jackson (1982), "Epiphenomenal Qualia", Philosophical Quarterly 32, pp. 127-136 [tr. it. "Qualia epifenomenici", in Marco Salucci (a cura di), La teoria dell'identità, Firenze, Le Monnier 2005, pp. 153-165]
Texts (b), (c), (d) and (f) will be available at the website Ariel (https://epaganinitlm.ariel.ctu.unimi.it).
IMPORTANT: students should bring the texts at the oral exam.
Assignments for both 6 ECTS and 9 ECTS exams:
(a) Ravenscroft, I. (2005), Philosophy of Mind. A Beginner's Guide, Oxford, Oxford University Press - capitoli 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 e 8
(b) C. G. Hempel (1949), "The Logical Analysis of Psychology", ristampato in N. Block, Readings in Philosophy of Psychology, vol. 1, Cambridge MA, Harvard University Press, pp. 14-23
(c) D. M. Armstrong (1966), "The Nature of Mind", Arts: Proceedings of the Sydney University Arts Association 3, pp. 37-48 [tr. it. "La natura della mente", in A. De Palma e G. Pareti (a cura di), Mente e corpo. Dai dilemmi della filosofia alle ipotesi della neuroscienza, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri 2015, pp. 46-62]
(d) H. Putnam (1967), "Psychological Predicates", ristampato con il titolo "The Nature of Mental States", in Id., Philosophical Papers II, 1975, pp. 429-440 [tr. it. "La natura degli stati mentali", in A. De Palma e G. Pareti (a cura di), Mente e corpo. Dai dilemmi della filosofia alle ipotesi della neuroscienza, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri 2015, pp. 63-78]
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exams:
(e) Ravenscroft, I. (2005), Philosophy of Mind. A Beginner's Guide, Oxford, Oxford University Press - cap. 9, 10, 11 e 12
(f) F. Jackson (1982), "Epiphenomenal Qualia", Philosophical Quarterly 32, pp. 127-136 [tr. it. "Qualia epifenomenici", in Marco Salucci (a cura di), La teoria dell'identità, Firenze, Le Monnier 2005, pp. 153-165]
Texts (b), (c), (d) and (f) will be available at the website Ariel (https://epaganinitlm.ariel.ctu.unimi.it).
IMPORTANT: students should bring the texts at the oral exam.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral exam: the oral exam deals with the theoretic content of the program and is aimed at ascertaining whether the student has acquired a critical attitude in presenting pros and cons of each theory.
Unita' didattica A
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
B
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course will investigate the following issues:
(a) Is language an instinct?
(b) Does language determine the way we see the world?
(c) Does language play a role in constructing our social categories?
(a) Is language an instinct?
(b) Does language determine the way we see the world?
(c) Does language play a role in constructing our social categories?
Prerequisites for admission
Capacity to read English texts.
Teaching methods
Lecture
Teaching Resources
Didactic Unit A
Noam Chomsky, Linguaggio e problemi della conoscenza, Il Mulino, 2016
Andrea Moro, I confini di Babele. Il cervello e il mistero delle lingue impossibili, Il Mulino, 2015
+ materiale che verrà reso disponibile all'inizio del corso.
Didactic Unit B
Guy Deutscher, La lingua colora il mondo. Come le parole deformano la realtà, Bollati Boringhieri, 2016
+ materiale che verrà reso disponibile all'inizio del corso.
Didactic Unit C
Penelope Eckert, Sally McConnell-Ginet, Language and gender, 2nd ed., Cambridge University Press, 2013
+ materiale che verrà reso disponibile all'inizio del corso.
Noam Chomsky, Linguaggio e problemi della conoscenza, Il Mulino, 2016
Andrea Moro, I confini di Babele. Il cervello e il mistero delle lingue impossibili, Il Mulino, 2015
+ materiale che verrà reso disponibile all'inizio del corso.
Didactic Unit B
Guy Deutscher, La lingua colora il mondo. Come le parole deformano la realtà, Bollati Boringhieri, 2016
+ materiale che verrà reso disponibile all'inizio del corso.
Didactic Unit C
Penelope Eckert, Sally McConnell-Ginet, Language and gender, 2nd ed., Cambridge University Press, 2013
+ materiale che verrà reso disponibile all'inizio del corso.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral exam at the end of the course. The student must demonstrate good understanding of the required readings.
Unita' didattica A
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Teams or Skype - Reception is by appointment by email