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PHL214Arts2 Unitsintermediate

Philosophy of Language

This course introduces students to the philosophical study of language. It explores the definition, characteristics, and historical development of the philosophy of language, tracing its evolution through ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary periods. The course examines dimensions and theories of meaning, including connotative, denotative, and reference theories. It also delves into the language of thought, private language arguments, and the complexities of metaphors, providing a comprehensive understanding of language from a philosophical perspective.

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120h
Study Time
13
Weeks
9h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
Philosophy of LanguageMeaningReferencePrivate LanguageMetaphor

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Definition of Language

2

Historical Development of Philosophy of Language

3

Connotative and Denotative Meaning

4

Reference Theory of Meaning

5

Use Theories of Meaning

6

Language of Thought

Total Topics6 topics

Requirements

Knowledge and skills recommended for success

Basic knowledge of philosophy

Familiarity with linguistic concepts

💡 Don't have all requirements? Don't worry! Many students successfully complete this course with basic preparation and dedication.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Linguist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Philosopher

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Editor

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Content Creator

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Communication Specialist

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Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

EducationPublishingMediaLawArtificial Intelligence

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: Philosophy of Language in Perspective

4h

Unit 1: Definition of Language

2 study hours
  • •Read Unit 1: Definition of Language
  • •Identify key definitions and etymology of language.
  • •Consider the assumptions about the origin of language.

Unit 2: Characteristics of Language

2 study hours
  • •Read Unit 2: Characteristics of Language
  • •Identify and explain the core features of language: cultural transmission, arbitrariness, discreteness, displacement, productivity, and duality patterning.
  • •Reflect on how these features distinguish human language.
Week
2

Module 1: Philosophy of Language in Perspective

4h

Unit 3: Definition of Philosophy

2 study hours
  • •Read Unit 3: Definition of Philosophy
  • •Understand the etymological, common, and professional senses of philosophy.
  • •Explore the critical, speculative, and analytic modes of philosophy.

Unit 4: Characteristics of Philosophy

2 study hours
  • •Read Unit 4: Characteristics of Philosophy
  • •Examine the characteristics of philosophy: thriving on questions, seeking extra-observational answers, searching for wisdom, and being an intellectual enterprise.
  • •Reflect on how these characteristics shape philosophical inquiry.
Week
3

Module 1: Philosophy of Language in Perspective

3h

Unit 5: Philosophy of Language

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 5: Philosophy of Language
  • •Define philosophy of language and its relationship with other disciplines.
  • •Explore the scope of the philosophy of language.
Week
4

Module 2: Historical Development of the Philosophy of Language

3h

Unit 1: Ancient Philosophy of Language

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 1: Ancient Philosophy of Language
  • •Discuss the Pre-Socratic contribution to the Philosophy of Language.
  • •Present Plato's theory of Language.
Week
5

Module 2: Historical Development of the Philosophy of Language

3h

Unit 2: Medieval Philosophy of Language

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 2: Medieval Philosophy of Language
  • •Discuss the place of Abelard in the development of Medieval Philosophy of Language.
  • •Highlight the features of speculative grammar.
Week
6

Module 2: Historical Development of the Philosophy of Language

3h

Unit 3: Modern Philosophy of Language

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 3: Modern Philosophy of Language
  • •Expose Locke's view on Language.
  • •Articulate the basic elements of linguistics in Spinoza's thought.
Week
7

Module 2: Historical Development of the Philosophy of Language

3h

Unit 4: Contemporary Philosophy of Language

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 4: Contemporary Philosophy of Language
  • •Discussion the position of pragmatism on language and truth.
  • •Expose the central claim of logical positivism.
Week
8

Module 3: Meaning and its Dimensions

2h

Unit 1: Connotative Dimension of Meaning

2 study hours
  • •Read Unit 1: Connotative Dimension of Meaning
  • •Define meaning and state the connotative aspects of meaning.
  • •Itemise the various types of connotation.
Week
9

Module 3: Meaning and its Dimensions

2h

Unit 2: Denotative Dimension of Meaning

2 study hours
  • •Read Unit 2: Denotative Dimension of Meaning
  • •Define denotation as it relates to meaning.
  • •Itemise some examples of denotative meaning.
Week
10

Module 3: Meaning and its Dimensions

2h

Unit 3: Sense Relations

2 study hours
  • •Read Unit 3: Sense Relations
  • •Define sense relations.
  • •Itemise the levels of sense relations.
Week
11

Module 3: Meaning and its Dimensions

2h

Unit 4: Lexical and Grammatical Dimensions of Meaning

2 study hours
  • •Read Unit 4: Lexical and Grammatical Dimensions of Meaning
  • •Discuss the lexical dimensions of meaning.
  • •Enumerate the grammatical dimensions of meaning.
Week
12

Module 4: Meaning and Reference Theory of Meaning

3h

Unit 1: Reference Theory of Meaning

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 1: Reference Theory of Meaning
  • •State the main idea of the reference theory of meaning.
  • •Discuss the Gottlob Frege's position on the reference theory of meaning.
Week
13

Module 4: Meaning and Reference Theory of Meaning

3h

Unit 2: Sense and Reference

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 2: Sense and Reference
  • •Discuss how the idea of sense and reference emerged from mathematics.
  • •Articulate how the idea of sense and reference functions in language.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create a timeline of key philosophers and their contributions to the philosophy of language.

2

Develop flashcards for key terms and concepts.

3

Practice analyzing arguments for and against different theories of meaning.

4

Write essays comparing and contrasting different theories.

5

Review all tutor-marked assignments and feedback.

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