This introductory course in philosophy explores the various ways in which the notions ‘language’, ‘mind’ and ‘world’ are interrelated.
In the first session we will tap into some basic notions and approaches in philosophy, linguistics and cognitive science, in order to have a solid grasp on the topic.
The second session will include a historical overview of the Western philosophy on the issue of mental representations and realism.
The third session will approach the topic from the perspective of modern linguistics and cognitive science.
In the fourth session, we will investigate how the recent developments in artificial intelligence (in particular, neural networks and Large Language Models) can contribute to our understanding of the relations between language, mind and reality.
I consider philosophy as an area of interaction with practical relevance to the lives of each of us, rather than one for just filling our minds with theoretical knowledge. There are no strict prerequisites for the course, although some previous knowledge in philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, metaphysics, cognitive science, or linguistics will be helpful.
About the Guide
Ceyhan Temürcü
After completing his undergraduate degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at METU, he received his MSc in Cognitive Science from the same university, and his PhD in Linguistics from the University of Antwerp. Since 2007, he has been involved in various inititives and projects on ecological and community-supported agriculture and solidarity economy practices in Ankara and its surroundings.
He worked as a lecturer and chair of department in the Cognitive Science Department at the METU Informatics Institute. He retired from METU in November 2024. In addition to his work on nature conservation and rural development, he continues his studies in the fields of semantics, philosophy of language and philosophy of mind.