Typed versus Untyped Approaches to Semantics

TYPED VERSUS UNTYPED APPROACHES TO SEMANTICS

Oslo, 12-13 April 2013

In both linguistic and model-theoretic semantics, there is a choice between typed and untyped approaches: Are there many distinct types or categories of semantic values or just one? Examples of typed approaches include Frege’s distinction between objects and concepts and George Boolos’s semantics for plurals, whereas set-theoretic
semantics provides an example of an untyped approach.

Topics and questions may include the following.

- Ramsey on the distinction between universals and particulars
- Frege’s problem of the concept horse
- Gödel’s criticism of typed approaches
- To what extent is contemporary semantics committed to type distinctions?

Confirmed speakers: Salvatore Florio (Kansas State and Oslo), Bob Hale (Sheffield),  Stephan Krämer (Hamburg), David Liebesman (Boston University), Fraser MacBride (Glasgow)

The event is organized in connection with Øystein Linnebo's ERC Starting Grant "Plurals, Predicates, and Paradox"  

http://www.hf.uio.no/ifikk/english/research/projects/ppp/

To register or inquire about the event, please email Salvatore Florio at [email protected]