Learning objectives
1- knowing and comprehension capability
Analytic and logic-argumentative competence as to the logical-linguistic theories applied to natural language considered in the course. Discussion and analysis skills.
2- knowing and applied comprehension capabilities
Capacity in applying logic methods. Performing written texts, in which the reasoning exposition of personal thesis will be evaluate
3-4-5 independent judgment, communicative skills, learning capabilities
improving the capabilities of independent judgment on arguments concerning logical and linguistic theories and capabilities to evaluate different theoretical positions; skills in presenting own considerations in a coherent manner, adducing arguments for it.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites. It is however useful to have a rudimentary knowledge of the logic of propositions and of the calculus of first order.
Course unit content
The main issue of the course is the syntactical and semantic analyses of linguistic predicates. Some modern and contemporary theories will be considered offering logical and linguistic analyses; in particular that of Montague (in 'The proper treatment of quantification in ordinary English).
Full programme
The issues we will focus on concern from one hand the way in which semantic categories are assigned to natural language expressions, from another hand, the application of the categorical analysis to natural languages. Questions such as these will be scrutinize throughout the course, with particular reference to the following authors/arguments:
E. Husserl,
The concept of meaning category, the substitutability principle (two expressions belonging to the same semantic category are substitutable in selected contexts.
K. Ajdukiewicz,
The retaking of the Husserl's view on semantic categories, the concept of syntactic connectivity, derivation of the index of a well formed phrase.
J. Lambek,
A logical-mathematical point of view on semantic categories, heuristic procedures, derived categories, the syntactic calculus.
R. Montague.
The form of the grammar, logical-philosophical problems, categorical lexicon, grammatical rules, the logical intermediate language, translation from syntax to semantics
Bibliography
Bibliography:
Ajdukiewicz, K. (1935). Die syntaktische Konnexität, “Studia Philosophica”, 1, [trad. it. in Bonomi (1973)].
Bonomi, A. (1973). La struttura logica del linguaggio, Bompiani, Milano.
De Palma, A. (1974). Linguaggio e sistemi formali, Einaudi, Torino.
Frege, G. (1891). Funktion und Begriff, Pohle, Jena; rist. in Frege (1967); [trad. it. in Bonomi (1973)].
Frege, G. (1892). Über Begriff und Gegenstand, “Vierteljahrsschrift für wissenschaftliche Philosophie”, 16, 192-205; rist. in Frege
(1967); [trad it. in A. Bonomi (1973)
Husserl, E. (1900-1901). Logische Untersuchungen, M. Niemeyer, Halle; [trad. it.: Husserl (1968)].
Husserl, E. (1968). Ricerche logiche, trad. it. a cura di G. Piana, Il Saggiatore, Milano
Lambek, J. (1958). The Mathematics of Sentence Structure, “American Mathematical Monthly”, 45, 207-23; [trad it. in De Palma
(1974)].
Montague, C. (1973). The Proper Treatment of Quantification in Ordinary English, in Hintikka - Moravcsik - Suppes (1973), 221-
42, ora in Montague (1974).
Montague, C. (1974). Formal Philosophy, Yale Univ. Press, New Haven – London.
Teaching methods
Oral lessons
Assessment methods and criteria
Final written test: It consists in a set of questions aimed to verify the comprehension of the issues dealt with and the student's exposition skills
Final oral exam: the central issue is the discussion of the written text. Particular attention will be paid to: 1) the comprehension of texts; 2) the capacities to use a technical-philosophical language; 3) the clarity in circumscribing and exposing the various arguments considered in the course.
Other information
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