ASP326 - Language and Reality
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online, Community Based Delivery (CBD)* |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Cathy Legg |
| Prerequisite: | Students must have passed at least one ASP-coded level 2 unit or ASR205 |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 1-hour on-campus lecture per week 1 x 1-hour on-campus seminar per week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 1 hour online lecture per week (recordings provided) 1 x 1 hour online seminar per week |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Note:*Community Based Delivery (CBD): only for students of the National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation NIKERI Institute (located at the Waurn Ponds campus) | |
Content
How do we know what someone else's words mean? How does language "hook onto" the world so that we can say things that are true? If language-use is a distinctive feature of human beings, as opposed to other animals, what does this mean for human life? Do different languages create different realities? If so, what does that mean for a people whose language is taken from them? This unit will address these questions by exploring some influential theories about language developed by twentieth century philosophers, many of whom saw philosophy of language as the gateway to all other work in philosophy. The unit will focus on key figures from both analytic and Continental philosophy, including Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Gadamer, Rorty, Brandom and Habermas.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Explain and articulate different philosophical approaches to the philosophy of language across analytical and continental traditions in the twentieth century | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication |
| ULO2 | Analyse and evaluate the relationship between language, thought and reality in the context of twentieth century philosophical debates on these themes | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving |
| ULO3 | Communicate knowledge of philosophical ideas pertaining to language, including the distinction between sense and reference and theories of interpretation | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: CommunicationGLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Online Exercises | 600 words or equivalent | 15% | Ongoing |
| Assessment 2: Research and Writing Exercise | 1000 words or equivalent | 25% | Week 8 |
| Assessment 3: Essay | 2400 words or equivalent | 60% | Week 11 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for ASP326 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.