FRONTIER TOPICS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND PHILOSOPHY
The Topic for WinterSemester 24-25 is: Introduction to Formal Languages: Applications and Philosophical Questions
Tuesdays 14-16 c.t., Room U2/01.33
Course description
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 (for students in Computer Science, the module name of the seminar is "Computational Philosophy"); it provides reading materials and examples on the topics of the course. The seminar is optional, but recommended.
Course plan: See "Course Description" PDF file in "Kurs"
Formal stuff
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 seminar Classic Texts in Philosophy of Language complements the lecture material and is therefore recommended but not obligatory.
Credits (ECTS): Philosophy Students: 2 ECTS (attendance) or 3 ECTS (attendance + exam). Computer Science Students (including CitH): 6 ECTS. Linguistics Students: 2 ECTS.
Lecture Validation: Philosophy Students: Final exam (Klausur). Computer Science Students (including CitH): Final exam (Klausur) + short abstract from tutorials. Tutorials will be scheduled for Computer Science students. Linguistics Students: In general, no requirement but regular attendance is strongly recommended. For special cases, e.g. Consolidation Module in English Linguistics, please contact the Professors about an oral exam.
Dates, deadlines, and appointments:
Semester dates: 14.10.2024 - 7.02.2025 (NOTE: No class on 7.01.2025)
Exam date (Klausur): 11.02.2025, 14-16 c.t., Room U2/01.33
Consultations: To request a personal meeting, please write an email: silvia.jonas@uni-bamberg.de, andrea.vestrucci@uni-bamberg.de
- Moderator/in: Silvia Jonas
- Moderator/in: Andrea Vestrucci