Registration to Departmental Seminar, Department of Philosophy (3 April 2023)

Speaker: Prof. Ethan Paul Nowak
Visiting Scholar, Department of Philosophy, CUHK
Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Philosophy, Umeå University, Sweden

Title: Speech and the Significance of Style

Date: 3 April 2023 (Mon)
Time: 4:30pm-6:30pm HK Time
Venue: Room 220, Fung King Hey Building (Limited seats. Registrations will be handled on a first come, first served basis) with synchronous online broadcasting on Zoom

Abstract:
The analytic philosophy of language is built around the idea that a speaker’s fundamental goal is to encode some information, a listener’s goal is to recover it, and a theory of language is successful if it can explain the exchange. Despite many successes, this conception obscures a point that is a central focus of research on language in other disciplines: how we speak is often at least as important as what we say.

My aim in this paper will be to show how deep this platitude goes. First, I will argue that the best way to understand the style of our speech is to see it as a tool we use not to send messages, but to perform actions. Making sense of these actions, however, requires viewing one other as agents motivated by moral, aesthetic, and social reasons than are not ordinarily countenanced in the philosophy of language. Drawing on some comparisons with Confucian philosophy, I will argue that these reasons end up permeating nearly any conversation we have, which means that deep moral questions are ever present.

Delivered in English. All are welcome.

Enquiries:
Tel: 3943 7135
Email: philosophy@cuhk.edu.hk

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1. Provision of personal data is voluntary. The information collected will be used for the purposes of events and communication related to the Department and related responsible organization for this event. Only authorized personnel in the Department can access the information. The Department will promote and disseminate information such as talks, services and research information to you by post, email or phone. You have the right to make subsequent changes on your choice of receiving further promotional information by notifying us in written format. 2. Under the provisions of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, you can access and apply for amendment of the data in this form. Please contact our Institute staff if necessary. 3. The Institute will use the photos and videos taken from events in organizing and promotional purposes. If you do not agree with the relevant arrangements, you may submit your wishes and notify us in written format before the event. I have read, understood and agreed with the above terms and conditions.
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