Description

Logic, language and related topics (syntax, semantics, foundations of mathematics, the nature of meaning, truth and reference) are central areas of philosophy. The School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences at the University of Edinburgh has a wealth of research talent in this area.

The Logic and Language grouping has faculty members interested in such issues as Godel's results, theories of truth deflationism, semantic paradoxes, the applicability of mathematics, proof theory, theoretical syntax, pragmatics, proof theory, and non-classical logic. The logic and language research grouping at Edinburgh regularly hosts research events in this area (an international conference in 2006, a workshop on realism in 2009), and bi-weekly research seminars). It also has research links with the other four research clusters (ancient philosophy, epistemology, ethics, and mind and cognition) and with other researchers working in the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, in Informatics, and at other universities.

Research questions

Here are some research issues that are of particular interest to those working in logic and language at the University of Edinburgh:

• What philosophical insights can be gained from formalized and axiomatic treatments of truth?
• How are we to approach the semantic paradoxes?
• Should one understand the notion of meaning in terms of truth conditions or assertibility conditions?
• How are mathematical claims to be analysed? What implications does the applicability of mathematics have for such questions?
• More generally, what light can be shed on philosophical problems - in semantics, metaphysics, epistemology and the philosophy of language - by the use of mathematical methods?

Logic & Language Research Seminar

The Logic & Language research group meets regularly for the Logic & Language Research Seminar.

People

The core members of faculty whose work relates to the Logic & Language grouping:

• Campbell Brown joined the department in August 2006. Previously he was an assistant professor at Bowling Green State University. Campbell Brown's home page.
• Professor Geoff Pullum is Professor of General Linguistics and the Head of Linguistics & English Language in the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences. Professor Geoff Pullum's home page.
• Paul Schweizer is Senior Lecturer in the School of Informatics.
• William Stirton is an Honorary Fellow in the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences.

In addition, there are a number of other members of faculty who are interested in logic & language-related topics, including:

• Alasdair Richmond (metaphysics and philosophy of science),
• Jesper Kallestrup (mind and language; epistemology)
• David Levy (meaning, epistemology)
• Matthew Chrisman (meta-ethics),
• Mike Ridge (meta-ethics)
• Inna Kupreeva (ancient and mediaeval logic).

Research affiliations

There are research affiliations between the Logic & Language research grouping here at Edinburgh and other research bodies. Dr Kallestrup is an Arché Associate Fellow. In addition, he was a fellow on the NAMICONA Project.

Postgraduates

Current research students

There are a number of postgraduate researchers interested in logic & language-related topics at Edinburgh, including:

• Evan Butts (PhD)
• Jamie Collin (PhD)
• Zoe Payne (PhD)
• Christopher Ranalli (PhD)
• Eusebio Waweru (PhD)

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