Languages, Cultures, Literature, Translation

Saussure, Wittgenstein and language games The course is divided into two parts: 1.Saussure and the history of the philosophy of language The first part of the course aims to introduce students to philosophical-linguistic reflection through the reading and commentary of a selection of classic pages of ancient and modern thought (Aristotle, Plato, Descartes, Vico, Humboldt, Chomsky, etc.) and the comparison with the integral reading of a classic of the language sciences, Ferdinand de Saussure's Course in General Linguistics. This text will allow us to introduce the basic notions of language theory summarised by Tullio De Mauro's First Lecture on Language with the relevant technical terminology (system, reference, metalanguage, creativity, etc.) and to review some dichotomies (signifier-signified; langue-word; synchrony-diachrony, syntagmatics-paradigmatics) that have had a wide influence on the human sciences of the 20th century. 2. Linguistic games between Wittgenstein and Saussure The second section (Linguistic games between Wittgenstein and Saussure) will be devoted to a historical-critical reading of the Philosophical Investigations by Ludwig Wittgenstein, focusing on the notions of ‘linguistic game’, of ‘meaning as use’, of ‘form of life’, of the ‘multistability of sense’, putting them in relation with Saussure’s thinking, as it appears in the Ecrits de linguistique Générale.

Given for granted some basic and indispensable goals (knowledge and understanding in the field of studies; ability to apply knowledge and understanding; capability of critical analysis; communication skills on that which has been learned; capacity to undertake further studies with some autonomy), the course intends to attain the following specific objectives 1) To introduce students into the problems, methods and basic terminology of philosophy of language; 2) To guide students into the study of philosophical-linguistic problems, stimulating their ability of analyzing and reconstructing the critical-historical discussion about philosophical texts; 3) to be able to undertake autonomous in-depth studies, starting from the debates carried out in the classroom and the given bibliographic suggestions.

Attending the course is highly recommended

The first half of the course will be mainly characterised by lectures; the second half will encourage discussion of the topics gradually acquired and explored. Attending students will be able to agree on a topic on which to write a paper of 6-10,000 characters.

Frontal lessons and seminar discussions of the text and the issues treated in the course

Saussure, Wittgenstein and language games The course is divided into two parts: 1.Saussure and the history of the philosophy of language The first part of the course aims to introduce students to philosophical-linguistic reflection through the reading and commentary of a selection of classic pages of ancient and modern thought (Aristotle, Plato, Descartes, Vico, Humboldt, Chomsky, etc.) and the comparison with the integral reading of a classic of the language sciences, Ferdinand de Saussure's Course in General Linguistics. This text will allow us to introduce the basic notions of language theory summarised by Tullio De Mauro's First Lecture on Language with the relevant technical terminology (system, reference, metalanguage, creativity, etc.) and to review some dichotomies (signifier-signified; langue-word; synchrony-diachrony, syntagmatics-paradigmatics) that have had a wide influence on the human sciences of the 20th century. 2. Linguistic games between Wittgenstein and Saussure The second section (Linguistic games between Wittgenstein and Saussure) will be devoted to a historical-critical reading of the Philosophical Investigations by Ludwig Wittgenstein, focusing on the notions of ‘linguistic game’, of ‘meaning as use’, of ‘form of life’, of the ‘multistability of sense’, putting them in relation with Saussure’s thinking, as it appears in the Ecrits de linguistique Générale.

Given for granted some basic and indispensable goals (knowledge and understanding in the field of studies; ability to apply knowledge and understanding; capability of critical analysis; communication skills on that which has been learned; capacity to undertake further studies with some autonomy), the course intends to attain the following specific objectives 1) To introduce students into the problems, methods and basic terminology of philosophy of language; 2) To guide students into the study of philosophical-linguistic problems, stimulating their ability of analyzing and reconstructing the critical-historical discussion about philosophical texts; 3) to be able to undertake autonomous in-depth studies, starting from the debates carried out in the classroom and the given bibliographic suggestions.

Attending the course is highly recommended

The first half of the course will be mainly characterised by lectures; the second half will encourage discussion of the topics gradually acquired and explored. Attending students will be able to agree on a topic on which to write a paper of 6-10,000 characters.

Frontal lessons and seminar discussions of the text and the issues treated in the course