​ABOUT

Prof. Gabriel Greenberg
PHIL 287: Philosophy of Language • Winter 2013 • UCLA
When: Wed 3-5:50
Where: Dodd 399

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SYLLABUS

Course descriptions: This course examines the theories on intentionality and information theory, exploring foundational concepts, the evolution of naturalized intentionality, and the role of informational relations in shaping mental states. It delves into the quantification and transfer of information, emphasizing the significance of causality and the conceptual framework for understanding informational content. ​

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1. Systems of Representation
1/9

Handout

Required Reading:

• Saussure ([1923] 1983), Course in General Linguistics
  • Intro: Ch. 3.3, “Place of Language in Human Facts: Semiology”
  • Part 1 Ch. 1, “Nature of the Linguistic Sign” 
• McCloud (1993), Understanding Comics
  • Ch. 2, “The Vocabulary of Comics” 

Recommended Reading:

• Peirce (1894), "What is a sign?"
• Schier (1986), Deeper into Pictures
  • Chapter 3, "The Natural and the Unnatural"
  • Chapter 4, "A Theory of Depiction"

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2. Pictorial Content
1/16

Handout

Required Reading:

• Goodman (1968), Languages of Art
  • Chapter 1, "Reality Remade": sections 1,5 and 6.
• Blumson (2009), "Pictures, Perspective, and Possibility"

Recommended Reading:

• Ross (1997) The Semantics of Media
  • Chapter 3, "Reflections on Content"
  • Chapter 5, "The Semantics of Viewpoint"

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3. Systems of Depiction
1/23

​Handout

Required Reading:

• Goodman (1968), Languages of Art
  • Chapter 1, "Reality Remade": sections 2-3 and 7-9.
• Willats (1997), Art and Representation
  • Chapter 1, "Introduction"

Recommended Reading:

• Lewis (1969) "Convention"
• Healy et al (2007) "Graphical Language Games"

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4. Geometrical Projection
1/30

Handout

​Required Reading:

• Sedgewick (1980), "The Geometry of Spatial Layout in Pictorial Representation" (from Hagen (1980) The Perception of Pictures.)
  •  Pages 34-48.
• Willats (1997), Art and Representation
  • Chapter 2, "Projection Systems"

Reccomended Reading:

• Hagen (1986), Varieties of Realism (especially chapters 5-9).
• Wikipedia series on Graphical Projection.

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5. Light and Line
2/6

Handout

Required Reading:

• ​Willats (1997), Art and Representation
  • Chapter 4, "Regions as Picture Primitives"
  • Chapter 5, "Line Drawing"
  • Chapter 6, "Optical Denotation Systems"

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6. Depiction, Perception, and Convention
2/13

Handout

Required Reading:

• Lewis (1969) "Convention"
  • Chapter 1, "Coordination and Convention"
  • Chapter 4, "Convention and Communication"

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7. Bare-bones and Fleshed-out Content
2/20

Handout

Required Reading:

• Kulvicki (1996), On Images
  • Chapter 3, "Transparency": pages 49-63.
• ​Malinas 1991, "A Semantics for Pictures", Section I
• Burge (2010), Origins of Objectivity
  • Chapter 2, "Terminology", pages 30-46.
  • Chapter 9, "Origins", pages 379-384.

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8. Fleshed-out Content and Direct Reference

Handout
​
Required Reading:

• DeCarlo and Stone (2010), "Visual Explanations"
• Schier (2010), Deeper into Pictures
  • Chapter 5, "Recognition and Iconic Reference"
• Kaplan (1977), "Demonstratives"
  • On character vs. content: sections VI(i), VI(ii), VII, XI, XIII, XIV
  • On direct reference: preface, III, IV, V, IX, IX(i)

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9. Semantics of Fleshed-out Content
3/6

Handout

Required Reading:

• Malinas 1991, "A Semantics for Pictures", Sections II-end
• Marr (1982), Vision
  • Chapter 4, "The Immediate Representation of Visible Surfaces", sections 4.1 and 4.3-5.

Reccomended Reading:

• Kaplan (1977), "Demonstratives"
  • The formal system: XVIII, XIX

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10. Enriched Regions
​​3/11

​​Handout
Slides
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Required Reading:

• Kaplan (1989), "Afterthoughts", "Taxonomy" (pp. 573-576) & Section II
• Walton (1984), "Transparent Pictures", Section 5

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