CBS Departmental Seminar on 2 June 2009
Title: Game-theoretic Models of Linguistic Contexts
Speaker: Professor Ahti-Veikko Pietarinen, Department of Philosophy University of Helsinki
Date: June 2, 2009 (Tuesday)
Time: 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Venue: AG 507, Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Abstract:
I will argue that applications of game theory to the study of semantic and pragmatic phenomena delineate three broad classes of linguistic contexts. A-contexts are correlates of chance moves and incomplete information, B-contexts of information encoded in game histories, and C-contexts of exogenous and environmental parameters. Semantic/pragmatic phenomena must instantiate one or more of the types A, B or C. Anaphora supplies examples of complex phenomena in which all three are present. I will sketch an argument for the completeness of the set of three. Consequently, I will point out the ways in which game theory can be used to argue against any meaningful semantics/pragmatics distinction.
About the speaker:
Ahti-Veikko J. Pietarinen is Professor of Philosophy at Department of Philosophy, University of Helsinki. His areas of specialisation cover Analytic Philosophy; Logic; Philosophy of Logic; Philosophy of Language; Semantics and Pragmatics; Game Theory; Peirce; Semiotics and Pragmatism. Since 1998, has has produced more than 100 refereed publications and has also given an equal number of talks around the world.
More details about Professor Pietarinen can be found at http://www.helsinki.fi/~pietarin/
