ISTITUZIONI DI FILOSOFIA ANALITICA

The course aims to introduce the paradigm of analytical philosophy, its view of philosophical knowledge, and its argumentative style, with special regard to the “cognitive turn”.

Within the cognitive-analytical paradigm, the course will focus on two specific issues: theories of meaning, which are large part of philosophy of language and are key to analytical philosophy in general; the issue of modularity, which will be addressed through the study of a classic of contemporary philosophy of mind.

With regard to competences, the course aims to develop robust abilities of conceptual analysis and argumentations’ assessment (distinction between theses and arguments, careful assessment of the argumentative chain, distinction between arguments and starting intuitions/assumptions etc.).

Frontal lessons and discussion in class.

Analytical philosophy as a paradigm: professionalism and specialism; analytical philosophy in the face of traditionalism and historicism; truth.

Meaning: the dominant analytical paradigm (Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Tarski, Carnap, Davidson, Montague, Kamp); beyond the dominant paradigm (Quine, Kripke, Putnam, bidimensionalism, late Wittgenstein, Dummett, Austin, Grice); the cognitive turn; cognitive theories of meaning.

Modularity of mind: four explanations of mental structure; a functional taxonomy of cognitive mechanisms; input systems as modules; central systems.

1) D. Marconi, Il mestiere di pensare, Einaudi (160 pagg.).

2) S. Caputo, C. Barbero, Significato. Dalla filosofia analitica alle scienze cognitive, Carocci, 2018 (350 pagg.).

3) J. Fodor, La mente modulare. Saggio di psicologia delle facoltà, il Mulino, 1988 (196 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.