PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE

The course aims to introduce the basic notions concerning the research methods in cognitive sciences of language, exemplifying those notions in the fields of cognitive pragmatics and spontaneous reasoning. Moreover, the course aims to develop the abilities related to reading and understanding a scientific paper in English, and the abilities related to group discussion concerning cognitive-philosophical issues.

Lectures and discussion in the classroom.

Basic notions concerning the research methods in cognitive sciences of language: theories and intertheoretic reduction; psychological and neuroscientific explanations; the nature of representations; computationalism etc. Cognitive pragmatics: Grice’s model; Relevance Theory; associative and inferential processes in pragmatics; automatic and controlled processes. The nature of inferences: from implicit, content-based inferences to formal inferences.

E. Datteri, Che cos’è la scienza cognitiva, Roma, Carocci, 2017 (144 pagg.).

M. Mazzone, Pragmatica cognitiva e mindreading, Acireale-Roma, Bonanno, 2016 (176 pagg.).

M. Mazzone, An associative account of inferences : the development towards the prototype, draft (13 pagg.)

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).

All the books listed in the programs can be consulted in the Library.