Philosophy of language and cognition

Course Information

Term: First Semester, 2026-27

Schedule: Mondays, 11:00 – 14:00

Instructors:

Víctor Verdejo (UPF): victor.verdejo@upf.edu

Josefa (Pepa) Toribio (ICREA-UB): jtoribio@ub.edu

 

Course Aims and Objectives

In this course, we will examine a central part of the conceptual and empirical foundations of the relation between language, the mind, and the world.

Part 1: Focuses on how the world is represented through language in communication, covering foundations (Frege and Grice), theoretical options, and problems like the first person, underdetermination, and the intransitivity of communication.

Part 2: Explores how the world is represented in perception and thought, discussing the nature and richness of perceptual content, cognitive modulation (cognitive penetration), and implicit attitudes.

 

Content of the Course

First Part (Weeks 1-5): Language, Mind, and the World (Víctor Verdejo)

Week 1: Communication, philosophical foundations

Week 2: Current views on the nature of communication

Week 3: Communication and the first person

Week 4: Communication and underdetermination

Week 5: Communication and transitivity

Second Part (Weeks 6-10): Mind and the World (Pepa Toribio)

Week 6: Representing the world in perception. The conceptualism / nonconceptualism debate (I)

Week 7: Representing the world in perception. The conceptualism / nonconceptualism debate (II)

Week 8: Representing the world in perception. The liberalism / conservatism debate

Week 9: Cognitive penetration

Week 10: Cognitive distortions: Implicit attitudes

 

Language: The course will be taught in English. All material subject to assessment must be written in English.

Dates: Classes begin on October 5th. Classes end on December 14th.

 

Course Policies and Assessment

Equality Policy: The course incorporates relevant gender issues (gender biases and bibliography) in application of the "Pla d'Igualtat" of the Universitat de Barcelona.

Participation (20%): Students are expected to read assigned texts in advance and take notes to facilitate active participation.

Exam (80%): A 3-hour in-class exam will take place on Monday, January 11th (11:00-14:00). It consists of two sets of questions; students must answer two questions from each set.

Re-evaluation: A second in-class exam for students who fail the first will take place on Monday, February 1st (11:00-14:00).

 

Intended Learning Outcomes

Knowledge: Define and compare central views in the philosophy of language and cognitive science.

Abilities: Identify problems, methodological errors, vagueness, and controversial assumptions in philosophical arguments.

Competences: Contrast and critically evaluate arguments central to contemporary debates.

 

Reading List Highlights

Week 1: Frege (1948) 'On sense and reference'; Grice (1957) 'Meaning'.

Week 2: Verdejo & Valente (2025) 'Sharing Thoughts and Intersubjectivity'.

Week 3: Heck (2002) 'Do demonstratives have senses?'.

Week 4: Buchanan (2010) 'A puzzle about meaning and communication'.

Week 5: Goodman (2025) 'Shared thought and communication'.

Weeks 6/7: McDowell (2009) 'Avoiding the Myth of the Given'; Toribio (2007) 'Nonconceptual Content'.

Week 8: Siegel (2006) 'Which properties are represented in perception?'.

Week 9: Macpherson (2012) 'Cognitive Penetration of Colour Experience'.

Week 10: Mandelbaum (2016) 'Attitude, association, and inference'.

(Resources on writing philosophy papers are provided in the original syllabus, including guides by Peter Horban, Garth Kemerling, and James Pryor.)