VB010 Philosophy of Language and Its Problems I

Faculty of Informatics
Autumn 2015
Extent and Intensity
2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Ing. Miloslav Dokulil, DrSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Aleš Horák, Ph.D.
Department of Machine Learning and Data Processing – Faculty of Informatics
Contact Person: prof. PhDr. Ing. Miloslav Dokulil, DrSc.
Supplier department: Department of Machine Learning and Data Processing – Faculty of Informatics
Timetable
Wed 8:00–9:50 A318
Prerequisites
The course presupposes an interest in questions connected with language/speech, preceding logic or following from its analysis, and being often interdisciplinary. We inherited "our" language so that it, in no small measure, exerts influence upon our perception and interpretation of reality.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 40 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/40, only registered: 0/40, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/40
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 18 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
A logical and linguistic analysis of language, and both as a partial presupposition of a general ("philosophical") interest in language as a special human phenomenon. The relationships of language to the world and its sometimes doubtful interpretation has to be taken into account.
Syllabus
  • An introduction to the "philosophy of language", especially in its relation to logic and analytical philosophy.
  • Is language only a misleading instrument? Is its postmodern interpretion directed?
  • An aside: The expression "knowledge" and its connotations of meaning. To know What, That, How, Why. The knowledge of things and truths.
  • Towards a theory of the world and language, as well as the mind, though in a preliminary way.
  • A way towards a linguistic theory.
  • Semiotics and semantics.
  • Languages and a language.
  • A sentence, a proposition, and "linguistic acts".
  • The relationship of thinking towards the world, language, logic and consciousness. The "Twin Earth" thought experiment.
  • Intention and convention.
  • Things and properties, or also, truth and reality.
  • Language and artificial intelligence. The so-called "Chinese Room Argument".
Literature
  • Literature is being assigned during the lectures.
Teaching methods
The lecturer has ceased to concentrate on projecting slides which when read during the lecture, prevent from directly following the presented course of ideas. The lesson is usually introduced by some updating (news concerning interesting applications of language expressions, anniversaries of personalities famous in the branch, etc.). To draw attention to undecided or pending problems in this sphere is a priority.
Assessment methods
2 credits after both regularly attending the classes and submitting 1 essay.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2003, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2017, Spring 2020, Autumn 2020, Spring 2022, Autumn 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2015, recent)
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