Universität Wien

180032 KU Feminism and Language (2019S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

There are two full days of class at the end of May.

  • Wednesday 13.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 20.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 27.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 03.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 10.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 08.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 15.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 24.05. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Friday 24.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 29.05. 09:15 - 11:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 29.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Friday 14.06. 09:15 - 11:15 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This is a course in social/political philosophy of language, which studies the social-political dimensions of language and speech. From a feminist perspective, we will look at social injustice and the linguistic mechanisms, by which this injustice is expressed, produced and covered up. We will pursue the following questions: What is feminism, what is feminist philosophy of language? What is language, what is speech, what are speech acts? What is the relationship between political and social power and speech? How does linguistic discrimination work? What influence, if any, does our speaking, particularly about gender, have on our thinking and acting? What is sexism and how does it manifest in language? What can we do in speaking against injustices in the form of sexism? What could resistance in speech be like? How can we speak non-discriminatorily? And how can reconciliation by means of language & speech happen?

At the end of the term, students should be able
– to recognize, analyze and critically reflect social mechanism of power in language,
– to understand and evaluate fundamental concepts and theories in feminist philosophy of language and linguistics,
– to understand and evaluate constructivist and speech-act-theoretic approaches,
– to critically compare analytic and constructivist approaches in feminist philosophy of language on the workings of power and discrimination in and through language,
– to become aware of their own positioning in society and to reflect on ways they might act in a non-discriminatory and reconciliatory fashion in their language use.

Assessment and permitted materials

Short presentation, writing exercises, essay

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Knowledge in philosophy of language will be an advantage, but is not a prerequisite. Likewise, knowledge in gender studies is highly welcome, but is not a prerequisite. What will be required is
– completion of at least one course in theoretical philosophy (preferably in philosophy of language, epistemology, metaphysics)
– a commitment to reading and analysing difficult texts in English.

Examination topics

Reading list

We will read texts by J.L. Austin, Rae Langton, Lera Boroditsky, Judith Butler, Lann Hornscheidt, Thich Nath Hanh and Marshall Rosenberg.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:36