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MCLS 70003, Fall Semester 2007:
Terminology Studies, Discussion Guide SW5

Version: 2007-08-30
SW 5,  Alternative Concept Theories
Instructor PowerPoint: Alternate Views on Concept Theory (See MCLS-IAL1/Public/70003)
The readings present views of concept theory and the relationship between language and concepts based current findings in psycholinguistics, neuroscience, and philosophy. These views run counter to the so-called "classical view" of concept theory.
Readings
See 70003_SW5_Incommensurability Folder on MCLS-IAL1/Public/70003 Server for articles.
Deacon, Terrance W. 1997. "Symbols Aren't Simple." In: The Symbolic Species: The Co-evolution of Language and the Brain. New York and London: W.W. Norton Company.
Damasio, Antonio R. “Assembling an Explanation.” Descartes’ Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain.

Supplemental:
Dohmen, Thomas. 2003. "Kuhn's Incommensurability Thesis." http://www.phil.uu.nl/preprints/ckiscripties/SCRIPTIES/027_dohmen.pdf

What challenges do Damasio and Deacon present to the notion of fixed concepts, whereby the external world of "reality" corresponds consistently to the internal world of concepts? Does your experience comparing concepts expressed in multiple languages and cultures support the classical view, or does it come closer to the dynamic views expressed by Deacon and Damasio? Does it matter to you as a linguist what neuroscientists like Damasio and Deacon have to say about language, or what the views of philosophers like Kuhn are claiming?
Task Description:
No special tasks for this week
Student PowerPoint Presentations
Student PowerPoints: short, 5-10 slide presentations on:
  1. Eco and Le Signe
  2. Temmerman vs. Budin and the semiotic/semantic triangle
  3. Rosch, Lakoff and prototypes
Deliverables 
Submit PowerPoints after class for inclusion in the MCLS-IAL1 resource.