AISE-Sem-B: Bachelorseminar Computational Philosophy
Winter semester 2024/25, Tuesdays 16-18 c.t., Room U2/02.04
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.
Course plan
1 15.10. Introduction
2 22.10. Friedrich Nietzsche – [6] Language and Truth
3 29.10. Gottlob Frege – [2] Sense and Reference
4 5.11. Bertrand Russell – [10] Definite descriptions
5 12.11. Saul Kripke – [4] (Excerpts) Proper Names
6 19.11. John Perry – [7] Indexicals
7 26.11. Q. V. O. Quine – [9] Analyticity and Reductionism
8 3.12. Alfred Tarski – [11] Semantic Definition of Truth
9 10.12. Kurt G¨odel – [3] Mathematics, Language, and Syntax
10 17.12. Ludwig Wittgenstein – [12] (Excerpts) Meaning as Use
11 14.01. Hilary Putnam – [8] Semantic Externalism
12 21.01. Noam Chomsky – [1] Knowledge of Language
13 28.01. David Lewis – [5] Languages and Language
14 4.02. Final discussion
Formal stuff
Seminar participants are expected to read the respective paper or book excerpt before each session, which are then discussed in the following seminar session. All texts will be available online. For each text, you will receive some questions for text preparation before the session, which cover the most important argumentation steps and can be used to prepare for the discussion. Each session begins with a short oral presentation (approx. 10 minutes) of the text prepared by one or several students. For those who wish to submit an essay, a list of possible essay topics will be distributed at the end of the seminar; students are also welcome to work on their own essay topics after prior consultation with Prof. Jonas and/ or Prof. Vestrucci. Languages: English and German
Open to: Students of Philosophy, Computer Science (Bachelor and Master), Computing in the Humanities, and Linguistics (including Foreign Languages)
Prerequisites: None. Having access to a laptop would be useful. The lecture Introduction to Formal Languages: Applications and Philosophical Questions complements the seminar material and is therefore recommended but not obligatory.
Credits (ECTS): Philosophy students: 4 ECTS for 1500-2500-word essays, or 6 ECTS for 2500-3500- word essays.
Computer Science Students (including CitH): 3 ECTS for a MAX 3 pages extended abstract on AAAI template. Template will be provided at due time.
Master’s students in English and American Studies, Profile Module I/II/III in English Linguistics: 8 ECTS for regular active participation in class + oral presentation + seminar paper of 4500-6000 words. Students taking the seminar as part of a di↵erent type of Profile Module in English Linguistics please contact the lecturers about credit requirements.
Master’s students in English and American Studies, Consolidation Module I/II/III in English Linguistics: 5/6/8 ECTS for regular participation in class + oral presentation + oral exam.
Dates, deadlines, and appointments:
Semester dates: 14.10.2024 - 7.02.2025
No class: 7.01.2025
Essay-Deadline: 1. April 2025 — Please submit your essay [for philosophy and linguistics students] or extended abstract [for CS students] as PDF to both lecturers. Philosophy students shall also provide a printed copy to Mrs Bachmann (philosophy secretary). Dates for linguistics students’ oral exams will be schedule individually.
Consultations: To request a personal meeting, please write an email: silvia.jonas@uni-bamberg.de.de, andrea.vestrucci@uni-bamberg.de
Winter semester 2024/25, Tuesdays 16-18 c.t., Room U2/02.04
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.
Course plan
1 15.10. Introduction
2 22.10. Friedrich Nietzsche – [6] Language and Truth
3 29.10. Gottlob Frege – [2] Sense and Reference
4 5.11. Bertrand Russell – [10] Definite descriptions
5 12.11. Saul Kripke – [4] (Excerpts) Proper Names
6 19.11. John Perry – [7] Indexicals
7 26.11. Q. V. O. Quine – [9] Analyticity and Reductionism
8 3.12. Alfred Tarski – [11] Semantic Definition of Truth
9 10.12. Kurt G¨odel – [3] Mathematics, Language, and Syntax
10 17.12. Ludwig Wittgenstein – [12] (Excerpts) Meaning as Use
11 14.01. Hilary Putnam – [8] Semantic Externalism
12 21.01. Noam Chomsky – [1] Knowledge of Language
13 28.01. David Lewis – [5] Languages and Language
14 4.02. Final discussion
Formal stuff
Seminar participants are expected to read the respective paper or book excerpt before each session, which are then discussed in the following seminar session. All texts will be available online. For each text, you will receive some questions for text preparation before the session, which cover the most important argumentation steps and can be used to prepare for the discussion. Each session begins with a short oral presentation (approx. 10 minutes) of the text prepared by one or several students. For those who wish to submit an essay, a list of possible essay topics will be distributed at the end of the seminar; students are also welcome to work on their own essay topics after prior consultation with Prof. Jonas and/ or Prof. Vestrucci. Languages: English and German
Open to: Students of Philosophy, Computer Science (Bachelor and Master), Computing in the Humanities, and Linguistics (including Foreign Languages)
Prerequisites: None. Having access to a laptop would be useful. The lecture Introduction to Formal Languages: Applications and Philosophical Questions complements the seminar material and is therefore recommended but not obligatory.
Credits (ECTS): Philosophy students: 4 ECTS for 1500-2500-word essays, or 6 ECTS for 2500-3500- word essays.
Computer Science Students (including CitH): 3 ECTS for a MAX 3 pages extended abstract on AAAI template. Template will be provided at due time.
Master’s students in English and American Studies, Profile Module I/II/III in English Linguistics: 8 ECTS for regular active participation in class + oral presentation + seminar paper of 4500-6000 words. Students taking the seminar as part of a di↵erent type of Profile Module in English Linguistics please contact the lecturers about credit requirements.
Master’s students in English and American Studies, Consolidation Module I/II/III in English Linguistics: 5/6/8 ECTS for regular participation in class + oral presentation + oral exam.
Dates, deadlines, and appointments:
Semester dates: 14.10.2024 - 7.02.2025
No class: 7.01.2025
Essay-Deadline: 1. April 2025 — Please submit your essay [for philosophy and linguistics students] or extended abstract [for CS students] as PDF to both lecturers. Philosophy students shall also provide a printed copy to Mrs Bachmann (philosophy secretary). Dates for linguistics students’ oral exams will be schedule individually.
Consultations: To request a personal meeting, please write an email: silvia.jonas@uni-bamberg.de.de, andrea.vestrucci@uni-bamberg.de
- Moderator/in: Mika Jan Holstein
- Moderator/in: Silvia Jonas
- Moderator/in: Andrea Vestrucci
Semester: 2024/25 Wintersemester