Language and Beyond: Philosophy, Computer Science, Linguistics
Language has a central place in our lives – we use it to communicate thoughts, emotions, and information to
others – and because of its everyday use, language seems unproblematic to us. This seminar invites students
not to take language for granted. We will read and discuss classic texts from the philosophy of language, get
to know the core topics of the field, and discuss how these questions apply to current questions such as:
• How can strings of symbols (called ‘words’ and ‘sentences’) have a meaning?
• Do machines – like ChatGPT – process language as we humans do?
• What are the boundaries of language, and is there something that language cannot express?
This seminar introduces students to recent debates on the meaning, function, and limits of language as well
as on its relevance in our understanding of the world. All texts will be in English; the discussion of the texts
will be in English and German, depending on the students’ preferences. Students in philosophy, computer
science, linguistics, and students with interdisciplinary interests are welcome. The seminar does not require
any previous knowledge. It can be followed autonomously or in conjunction with the lecture Introduction to
Formal Languages: Applications and Philosophical Questions.
Language has a central place in our lives – we use it to communicate thoughts, emotions, and information to
others – and because of its everyday use, language seems unproblematic to us. This seminar invites students
not to take language for granted. We will read and discuss classic texts from the philosophy of language, get
to know the core topics of the field, and discuss how these questions apply to current questions such as:
• How can strings of symbols (called ‘words’ and ‘sentences’) have a meaning?
• Do machines – like ChatGPT – process language as we humans do?
• What are the boundaries of language, and is there something that language cannot express?
This seminar introduces students to recent debates on the meaning, function, and limits of language as well
as on its relevance in our understanding of the world. All texts will be in English; the discussion of the texts
will be in English and German, depending on the students’ preferences. Students in philosophy, computer
science, linguistics, and students with interdisciplinary interests are welcome. The seminar does not require
any previous knowledge. It can be followed autonomously or in conjunction with the lecture Introduction to
Formal Languages: Applications and Philosophical Questions.
- Moderator/in: Inken Bachmann
- Moderator/in: Mika Jan Holstein
- Moderator/in: Silvia Jonas
- Moderator/in: Andrea Vestrucci
Semester: 2024/25 Wintersemester
Introduction to Formal Languages: Applications and Philosophical Questions
This lecture offers an accessible, step-by-step introduction to formal languages, requiring no prior knowledge
or prerequisites. It is designed to equip students with fundamental skills in formal languages as well as an
understanding of their role in philosophy, computer science, and linguistics.
Formal languages are crucial to the efficient and precise communication of information, offering agility
and clarity that surpass natural language, and allowing for information automation in computer. This makes
the mastery of formal languages not just an intellectual pursuit but an important practical skill for future
working philosophers, computer scientists, and linguists.
In addition, formal languages are at the center of some of the most puzzling philosophical questions, for
example about the limits of cognition, semantic paradoxes, or the existence of abstract objects.
Complementing the lecture is the seminar Classic Texts in Philosophy of Language; it provides reading
materials and examples on the topics of the course. The seminar is optional, but recommended.
This lecture offers an accessible, step-by-step introduction to formal languages, requiring no prior knowledge
or prerequisites. It is designed to equip students with fundamental skills in formal languages as well as an
understanding of their role in philosophy, computer science, and linguistics.
Formal languages are crucial to the efficient and precise communication of information, offering agility
and clarity that surpass natural language, and allowing for information automation in computer. This makes
the mastery of formal languages not just an intellectual pursuit but an important practical skill for future
working philosophers, computer scientists, and linguists.
In addition, formal languages are at the center of some of the most puzzling philosophical questions, for
example about the limits of cognition, semantic paradoxes, or the existence of abstract objects.
Complementing the lecture is the seminar Classic Texts in Philosophy of Language; it provides reading
materials and examples on the topics of the course. The seminar is optional, but recommended.
- Moderator/in: Inken Bachmann
- Moderator/in: Mika Jan Holstein
- Moderator/in: Silvia Jonas
- Moderator/in: Andrea Vestrucci
Semester: 2024/25 Wintersemester