PSL:Discussion Topics Guide

Philosophy and Science of Language Discussion Group
This wiki page is a companion for the the Philosophy and Science of Language discussion group.

Discussion group members should post links to useful web sites in the "Links" section at eGroups.

Subscribe to the Philosophy and Science of Language discussion group.

Some starting points for new discussion group members
Take a look at posts [http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/1? post #1] and [http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/2? post #2] for some orientation.

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/403? 403] The Spirit of the list

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/687? 687] A common goal for the eGroup? See also post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/737? 737], [http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/739? 739]. Some suggestions; [http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/741? 741].

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/821? 821] Call for Participation by group members. A [http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/327? poll] for the group concerning science and philsophy.

To aid in communication between people from many backgrounds, we will be trying to take care with our terminology and explicitly state and explore our working assumptions and goals.

Important books.

Post [http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/3? post #3] is a good example of how to introduce a topic and then post a paper for evaluation by the group. Look in the eGroups "Files" for such documents.

A Guide to Major Discussion Threads
[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/7? post #7] This thread starts with the idea that humans find it useful to package ideas in coherent stories. Parr makes reference to the work of William Calvin.

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/19? post #19] All members should feel free to post their personal "Position Papers" This is a statement of one group member's (Joshua Freeman) interests and biases. Follow the stimulated threads at post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/30? 30] and post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/123? 123], below.

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/20? post #20] History of Philosophy.

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/24? post #24] A standing linguistic question: evolution of articles in language.

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/30? post #30] See the original post for this thread at post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/19? 19] (described above) and there is more at post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/123? 123] (described below).

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language3/37? post #37] THE ASCENT OF MIND. brains, thought, instinct, mind

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/39? post #39] Chomsky and Pinker

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/47? post #47] induction, deduction, semantics, arguments

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/50? post #50] Society and Language

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/74? post #74] Bickerton and Language

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/79? post #79] eGroups can be a pain. Here is a specific suggestion for dealing with the eGroups system.

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/85? post #85] On Improvement.

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/89? post #89] Essay on Logic "I propose that humans use induction because of instinct." see also post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/415? 415]

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/110? post #110] Care with terminology. Specific example: INSTINCT. It would be useful for group members to post definitions for key terms. We have a web page for just this purpose.

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/123? post #123] Economics of Language. See related threads post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/19? 19] and post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/30? 30], (described above).

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/143? post #143] Ask Alice. Parrsing Alice in Wonderland word play.

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/173? post #173] Pavlov's People: "Humans do only when they are moved to do so."

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/202? post #202] Under what conditions is there PROGRESS in human languages?

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/219? post #219] Paul Grice</B>'s rules for conversation.

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/237? post #237] Historical Development of Philosophy of Language. Some comments on Lakoff and Johnson</B>'s book, "Philosophy in the Flesh</B>". Particular attention on the role of unconscious brain processes that support our conscious minds. See the related comments on the unconscious in [http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/240? post #240]

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/270? post #270] Chomky</B>'s Views and Influence on the study of language.

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/275? post #275] What would be the characteristics of a general purpose learning system? Is human language such a system? (Follow GPLS thread).

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/292? post #292] How do we detect consciousness? Would an artificial intelligence system that used human language have to be conscious?

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/314? post #314] Some comments on John Searle</B> and his books.

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/333? post #333] Michael Gazzaniga</B>

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/350? post #350] Why can't the English learn to speak?

[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/367? post #367] Wittgenstein</B> and battles against bewitchment by Plato and Descartes.

More on Wittgenstein post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/405? 405]. post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/469? 469].

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/368? 368], [http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/369? 369], [http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/370? 370] Relationships between Science and Philosophy

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/393? 393] Discussion of minds viewed as formal systems and computing devices

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/395? 395] Some questions about language.

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/398? 398] Some issues related to the role and use that graphical and sentential representations have in communication and problem-solving across the school curriculum

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/485? 485] Landmarks. Parr tries to nudge the group away from philosophical foundation issues towards confrontation of the key issue of MEANING.

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/565? 565] Ruth Millikan</B>. Millikan books (see also 618, 630, 672, 715, 744, 762, 779, 803)

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/576? 576] Correspondence theories of meaning.

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/605? 605] Working Assumptions (see also 609, 614)

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/655? 655] Goals for studies of Mind and Language

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/675? 675] Pierce</B> and Wittgenstein</B> (see also 686)  post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/702? 702] Looking for meaning in texts. (see also "zero degree</B>" threads, post #716, post #740, post #802, etc.)

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/822? 822] What is Language? (see also post #838, post #846)

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/825? 825] Deconstructing Heidegger</B>'s "Being and Time".

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/848? 848] Robots, transhumanism, language, thought.

post #[http://www.egroups.com/message/Philosophy_and_Science_of_Language/859? 859] Is realism instictive?