Universität Wien

180130 KU Theories of Meaning (2025S)

10.00 ECTS (4.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Continuous assessment of course work

Hinweis der SPL Philosophie:

Das Abgeben von ganz oder teilweise von einem KI-tool (z.B. ChatGPT) verfassten Texten als Leistungsnachweis (z.B. Seminararbeit) ist nur dann erlaubt, wenn dies von der Lehrveranstaltungsleitung ausdrücklich als mögliche Arbeitsweise genehmigt wurde. Auch hierbei müssen direkt oder indirekt zitierte Textstellen wie immer klar mit Quellenangabe ausgewiesen werden.

Die Lehrveranstaltungsleitung kann zur Überprüfung der Autorenschaft einer abgegebenen schriftlichen Arbeit ein notenrelevantes Gespräch (Plausibilitätsprüfung) vorsehen, das erfolgreich zu absolvieren ist.
Moodle
We 09.04. 15:00-18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

NOTE: On Wednesday 26/3 we will have a brief introductory meeting on Zoom. If you are not registered for this course but would like to attend, please email the instructor.

  • Wednesday 26.03. 15:00 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 02.04. 15:00 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 30.04. 15:00 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 07.05. 15:00 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 14.05. 15:00 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 21.05. 15:00 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 28.05. 15:00 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 04.06. 15:00 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 11.06. 15:00 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 18.06. 15:00 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 25.06. 15:00 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course focuses on one of the foundational issues in analytic philosophy of language: the nature of linguistic meaning. We will explore various approaches to theorizing about the meanings of natural language expressions and examine challenges posed by phenomena such as polysemy, vagueness, context-sensitivity, and translation. By the end of the course, students will have developed a deeper understanding of key topics in philosophy of language and semantics.

This course follows the “Masterkurs” format in the new master's program. It carries 10 ECTS credits and consists of weekly 180-minute sessions. While the course includes some brief lectures, the primary focus is on rigorous seminar-style discussions of classic and contemporary texts in philosophy of language.

The course is divided into six thematic units, each spanning approximately two weeks:

• Foundational Issues
• Semantics and Formal Approaches
• Translation and Indeterminacy
• Conceptual Frames and Meaning Relativism
• Compositionality
• Polysemy and Meaning Underdetermination

Each week, students will engage in discussions centered on one or more primary texts.

Assessment and permitted materials

The assessment comprises three components:

• Weekly Discussion Questions (20%)
Students must post weekly discussion questions on the primary text to a forum on Moodle.
• In-Class Presentation (30%)
Each student will deliver one short presentation on a secondary text. The schedule for presentations will be finalized in the first week.
• Term Paper (50%)
Students must submit a term paper of approximately 3,000 words.

Opportunities for peer feedback will be provided for both discussion questions and in-class presentations.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Regular attendance and completion of the three component assessments. Students must receive a grade of 4 on the term paper. The overall grade will be the weighted average of the grades of the component assessments.

Examination topics

There is no exam.

Reading list

Reading list (primary readings, subject to change):

Week 1:
David Lewis, "Languages and Language"
H.P. Grice, "Meaning"

Week 2:
Rudolf Carnap, Meaning and Necessity (pages 1-69)

Week 3:
Rudolf Carnap, Meaning and Necessity (pages 69-145)

Week 4:
Rudolf Carnap, Meaning and Necessity (pages 145-205)

Week 5:
W.V.O. Quine, Word and Object (pages 1-71)

Week 6:
W.V.O. Quine, Word and Object (pages 73-141)

Week 7:
W.V.O. Quine, Word and Object (pages 143-254)

Week 8:
Donald Davidson, "On the Very Idea of a Conceptual Scheme"

Week 9:
Dorothy Edgington, "On Conditionals"

Week 10:
Richard Montague, "Universal Grammar"

Week 11:
Peter Ludlow, Living Words (pages 1-72)

Week 12:
Peter Ludlow, Living Words (pages 72-165)

Association in the course directory

Last modified: We 26.03.2025 09:46