PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE (UNIT B)
cod. 16073

Academic year 2009/10
2° year of course - First semester
Professor
Academic discipline
Filosofia e teoria dei linguaggi (M-FIL/05)
Field
Discipline filosofiche
Type of training activity
Related/supplementary
40 hours
of face-to-face activities
5 credits
hub:
course unit
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Learning objectives

The course aims to present the problems associated with the concept of truth in an elementary form. Contemporary controversies relating to the relativism of truth will be explored in particular. <br />
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Prerequisites

No background knowledge is required.

Course unit content

Course title: Theories of life <br />
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The theme of truth is central to philosophical thought in the 20th century. As will be seen in module A, the concept appears fundamental for epistemology, in that truth is the goal of all knowledge. This is true for the theory of action, in that actions which are motivated by true beliefs are usually more effective; for the theory of meaning, in that understanding a statement is to know under what circumstances it is true; for logic, in that valid inferences are those which transmit the truth from the introduction to the conclusion; and also for ethics, in that it is important to establish if evaluative assertions claim to be true or if they have a character all of their own. There is no agreement between philosophers on the nature of this concept. Module B will examine some classic texts on the subject. <br />
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Full programme

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Bibliography

A.Iacona, L’argomentazione, Einaudi, 2005 <br />
D.Davidson, Sulla verità, Laterza, 2006 <br />
D.Marconi, Per la verità, Einaudi, 2007 <br />
M.Kolbel, Truth without Objectivity, Routledge, 2002 <br />
P.Engel, Truth, Acumen, 2002, tr.it., Verità, DeFerrari, 2004 <br />
P.Horwich, Verità, Laterza 1994 <br />
S.Blackburn, Truth. A Guide for the Perplexed, Penguin, 2005 <br />
T:Williamson, The Philosophy of Philosophy, Blackwell, 2007 <br />

Teaching methods

The course will be taught by lectures, reading, commenting on, and discussion of texts. The written exam will consist of a subject which will be assigned by the lecturer and which will be discussed during the oral exam, together with some of the texts in the bibliography. <br />
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Assessment methods and criteria

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Other information

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