The Research Seminar Series in Philosophy invites you to a seminar with Matti Eklund Uppsala, “The Idea of Alien Structure”.
Abstract: Can there be alien languages – languages whose expressions have semantic functions radically different from the semantic functions of expressions of familiar languages? Might some such unfamiliar language represent reality better than familiar languages do? That is, might reality have alien structure, better captured by an alien kind of language? Much of my recent research, for example the forthcoming book Alien Structure: Language and Reality (OUP 2024), revolves around these questions. In this talk I introduce these questions and considerations for and against various answers through considering conceptions of ontological categories associated with early analytic philosophers such as Gottlob Frege and Bertrand Russell. I also discuss some objections to the project of investigating alien languages and alien structure.
All interested are welcome to participate in this seminar.
