One purpose of the theory of reference is to give a systematic account of the conditions under which sentences are true. One purpose of the theory of sense is to give an account of the thoughts which are expressed by sentences. Indexicals raise difficulties for both of these projects. They raise difficulties for the first project, because the conditions under which sentences containing indexical expressions are true vary from context to context. They raise difficulties for the second project because a proper account of indexical thoughts has proven to be very elusive. The purpose of this course is to look at various attempts at dealing with the worries indexicals raise for these projects.

In addition to the regular course meeting, there will be a fifty minute discussion section, which will take place Thursday, from 1:25-2:15, in the A.D. White House.
 
 

Jan. 23: Introduction
(First problem set assigned, begin reading David Kaplan, "Demonstratives")

Part I
Jan. 30: Richard Montague, "Pragmatics"
Hans Kamp, "Formal Properties of 'Now'" (intro and section 1)
Recommended: Arthur Prior, "'Now'"
Feb. 6: Robert Stalnaker, "Pragmatics"
Kaplan, "Demonstratives"
Feb. 13: Kaplan, "Demonstratives" (continued)
Feb. 20: David Lewis, "Index, Content, and Context"
Nathan Salmon, "Tense and Singular Propositions"
Feb. 27: Stalnaker, "Assertion"
Recommended: Krister Segerberg, "Two-dimensional Modal Logic"
Martin Davies and Lloyd Humberstone, "Two Notions of Necessity"

Part II

March 5: John Perry, "Frege on Demonstratives"
Gareth Evans, "Understanding Demonstratives"
Perry, "Postscript to 'Frege on Demonstratives'"
Recommended: John McDowell, "De Re Senses"
March 12: Discussion continued; also John Perry, "The Problem of the Essential Indexical"
March 26: David Lewis, "Attitudes de dicto and de se"
Robert Stalnaker, "Indexical Belief"
Recommended: Chapter 14 of Max Cresswell, Structured Meanings
April 2: Gareth Evans, Chapter 6, Varieties of Reference
April 9 & 16: Gareth Evans, Chapter 7, Varieties of Reference
Lucy O'Brien, "Evans on Self-Identification"
Recommended reading: Sydney Shoemaker, "Self-Reference and Self-Awareness"
G.E. Anscombe, "The First Person"
April 23: Christopher Peacocke, Chapter 5 ("Demonstrative Content I"), Sense and Content
April 30: Peacocke, Chapter 6 ("Demonstrative Content II"), Sense and Content
John McDowell, "Peacocke and Evans on Demonstrative Content"
 

Course Requirements

There will be assignments (in the form of problem sets) for Part I of the course, required for all enrolled students (though which assignments you receive will depend upon your background preparation in logic). There will also be a term paper, in two drafts, the second of which is due two days before grades are to be handed in, whenever that may be.