Language and mind have been two of the premier research areas of 20th century philosophy. Each has been studied independently of the other, with the philosophy of language dominating the first half of the century and the philosophy of mind surging in the second half. The philosophy of language does not study particular human languages. Rather, it focuses on more abstract questions of language itself, including how sentences mean what they do, how names refer to individuals or natural kinds, how we can talk about non-existent things, and whether (and how) two sentences can mean the same thing. The philosophy of mind in 20th century analytic philosophy includes the traditional challenges of the mind/body problem, but also aims at assessing the prospects of particular sciences of the mind such as scientific psychology and neuroscience.

Philosophies of language and mind have also enjoyed a fruitful liaison, as much of the technical apparatus of the philosophy of language has been used to illuminate the mind. The other side of this coin is that language is fairly obviously something that minds achieve, and some prominent theories of linguistic meaning have emphasized psychological elements of language use.

In this course we will pursue an introduction to these two topics. Our encounters with both will, out of necessity, be preliminary. The course is intended to prepare students for more advanced research on either language or mind, or in the areas of philosophy (such as epistemology, metaphysics, and parts of ethics) that draw on these fields.

REQUIRED TEXTS (Available at Water Street books or on reserve in Sawyer Library)

Heil, John (ed.) (2004). Philosophy of Mind: A Guide and Anthology. Oxford: Oxford UP.

Lycan, William (1999). Philosophy of Language: A Contemporary Introduction. London: Routledge.

Stainton, Robert (ed.) (2000). Perspectives in the Philosophy of Language. Ontario: Broadview.

Wittgenstein, L. (1953). Philosophical Investigations.

Additional required texts can be accessed on the web. Please find links below in the schedule of assignments. I will assume that each of you has reliable and convenient internet access. If this is not the case, please see me for printouts of the electronic texts.

GRADING

1. Participation

Discussion is essential to the vitality of the seminar. Thoughtful participation in our discussions is also one indicator that you are reading carefully. Thus, the instructor reserves the privilege of treating participation as constituting up to 10% of the final grade.

Many students are concerned with this aspect of the classroom dynamic, but it should not be a source of anxiety. Keep in mind that your first priority is reading the assignments carefully and working diligently on the writing for the course. Thoughtful, honest, and respectful participation derives from these. Every effort will be made to ensure that the class is a welcoming forum for sharing serious ideas. In addition, participation is more inclusive than many students realize. Being attentive and engaged in class, asking clarificatory questions, and discussing aspects of the course with the instructor during office hours all fall under this heading.

Grading on all written work will be anonymous. Please turn in all of your papers with only your Williams ID number on it (in some unobtrusive place, such as the back page). Papers must reflect original thoughts and ideas. Any direct quotations or paraphrased material from outside sources must be credited and footnoted in your favorite style. Violation of this constitutes plagiarism. If you have questions about how the honor code applies to written work, please do not hesitate to contact me.

2. Weekly writing assignments

You are required to write 9 short papers. These short paper assignments are intended to stimulate class discussion and to help you master the material.

Your early efforts on the weekly assignments should be primarily expository. For the first two or three papers, I prefer that you summarize one or two crucial themes of the reading for that week. It is appropriate for your papers to begin with, e.g., "Bertrand Russell claims that...." Your goal would then be to elaborate and put into your own words Russell's arguments. Please keep direct quotations to a minimum (one or two short quotations in a paper of this length is acceptable), but be sure to include page references when attributing a view or citing a passage.

By the third or fourth weekly paper, my expectations will change: I will begin looking for a more critical engagement with the readings. While it will be acceptable for your later weekly papers to begin with exegesis, you should also aim to offer some response to philosophical topics we encounter. Please keep in mind that by "critical engagement" I do not mean to demand criticism. You are welcome to flag your disagreements with the authors we have studied, but you are equally encouraged to develop ideas in a positive vein.

You are required to write on the primary sources rather than on the Lycan or Heil introductory material.

For any given week, you may write for EITHER our Tuesday meeting or our Thursday meeting. The goal is to have you write on readings before they have been discussed in class. Papers will be due at the beginning of the class you write for.

Not counting the first class meeting, and not counting the week when the essay on language is due (since you are not expected to write a weekly essay that week) there are 11 weeks of class. Again, you are required to write for only 9 of these weeks. If you elect to write more than 9 weekly papers, the 9 best will be used to calculate the final grade for this component of the course.

About 2 pages (3 maximum). Typewritten, double spaced in a 12 point font. No title page. 30% of final grade.

3. Two Seminar Papers

These papers are an opportunity for you to engage the themes of the course in a sustained and serious manner. You may write on the suggested paper topics (find links below) or you may propose another topic to pursue. The paper on language is due by the beginning of class on March 17th. The paper on mind is due by 5:00pm on the third-to-last day of the exam period (the latest time the Dean's office allows written work to be turned in).

You are not expected to seek additional sources for final papers, though you may.

8-10 pages. Typewritten, double spaced in a 12 point font. No title page. 60% of final grade with each paper weighted equally.

CLASS RESOURCES

The instructor holds office meetings each week in Harper 9. They are:

Tuesdays 12:30-2:30
Thursdays 12:30-2:30
Fridays 11-1

Additional times are available by special arrangement. Students are welcome to visit individually or in groups.

Philosophy Table at Dodd House - The instructor will meet informally with students over lunch in the Dodd House Dining Hall after class to discuss issues in philosophy. These may be topics that arise in class, but need not be. We may occasionally be joined by other Williams faculty, and you are welcome to invite friends who are not in the class.

Instant Messaging - The instructor will occassionally be available via AIM. You may check anytime, and you may assumes that if I am logged on, I am available (and eager) for conversation. My screen name is profjcruz.


Students with disabilities who may need disability-related classroom accommodations for this course are encouraged to set up an appointment to meet with me as soon as possible and to contact the Dean's Office (at extension 4262) to better insure that accommodations are provided in a timely manner.