Logic and Language

This course introduces two topics that are immensely important to theoretical philosophy: logic and the philosophy of language. Logic is a tool for analyzing which arguments are valid and which theories are consistent. These properties are often used as a measure of rationality and they play an important role in philosophical debate. In the philosophy of language, we explore how language works. What is the nature of linguistic meaning and reference? How can speakers of a language understand sentences they have never heard before? There are some interesting ties between logic and the philosophy of language, which we also explore in this class.

Deze cursus overlapt met KI1V13001 – Inleiding Logica voor KI. Studeer je Filosofie, dan volg je FI2V23005 en mag je KI1V13001 niet laten meetellen voor je programma.

This course focuses on the methods of symbolic logic as well as philosophical theories about language. Symbolic logic is a modern, mathematical tool for analyzing linguistic structure and reasoning. Students are expected to acquire new skills in this course and relate those skills to specific theoretical questions. At the end of this course:

• Students will understand the concepts of validity and consistency.
• Students will grasp the compositional structure of first-order sentences.
• Students will recognize the difference between valid reasoning and fallacies.
• Students will know about foundational theories in the philosophy of language.
• Students will appreciate the relationship between meaning and reasoning.

• Book forall x: Utrecht