Cognitive Science 0234 - Semantics

This course is an introduction to a scientific approach to meaning called semantics. We will focus on composition: the idea that the meaning of a whole is composite of the meanings of its parts. In addition, we will focus on truth: the idea that we understand the meaning of a sentence by understanding what the world would have to be like for the sentence in question to be true. Finally, we will focus on context and ambiguity: the idea that in order to evaluate a sentence for truth, we must assess the surrounding discourse in which that sentence occurs; depending on that discourse, a given sentence may mean different things. To make these phenomena precise, the semantic theory that we develop employs tools from syntactic theory, set theory and logic. It allows us to analyze the meanings of words and sentences. This course develops quantitative and research skills necessary for doing more advanced work in linguistics, philosophy and logic.

Mind, Brain, and Information Quantitative Skills Writing and Research Students are expected to spend approximately 8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time.