Semantic internalism and externalism
Fall 2016, Harvard University
Read Frege's "Sense and Reference."
Prepare 1p list of response questions.
Write Reading Response 1 (Frege).
Read Putnam's "Meaning and Reference."
Write Reading Response 2 (Putnam).
Read Burge's "Individualism and Psychology."
Write Reading Response 3 (Burge).
Read selections from Chomsky's "Language and Nature" (**only read the parts demarcated by a yellow line**) and Bezuidenhout's "Language as Internal."
Complete Reading Worksheet.
Prepare five ideas, very roughly sketched (one or two sentences is fine), for term papers of a few different types (hypothetical---not ones you'll actually write). Types include:
** An original for semantic internalism, externalism, or a hybrid.
** A thorough logical response to one of the philosophical arguments we've read in class.
** A Fregean(/Putnam-esque/Burgese/Chomskyan/etc.) analysis of a text you've read elsewhere.
** A literature review exploring a well-defined realm of semantic phenomena (experimental or theoretical).
** A development of an idea you've had in class regarding either the status of meaning as internal/external or some offshoot of the main debate (must be well-defined and rigorous).
** Anything else creative you can think of!
Read your choice of optional texts.
Prepare to briefly share what you read with the class.
Term paper due October 25 at midnight.