ELFT HÍRADÓ

[Gömöri Márton <gomorim AT gmail.com>]

Logic and Philosophy of Science Seminar
Department of Logic, Institute of Philosophy
Eötvös Loránd University
Budapest, Múzeum krt. 4/i Room 224
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P R O G R A M

The seminar is held in hybrid format, in person (Múzeum krt. 4/i Room 224)
and online. Zoom link
<https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84594385686?pwd=a7KPWoNLrPg11xNTi5Ug91YR5mHmmS.1>


10 April (Friday) 4:15 PM  Room 224 + ONLINE

Gergő Gila
Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Logic
Title: Linguistic Meaning and the Unconscious
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ABSTRACT:

A central element of Grice’s theory of language is that linguistic meaning
is intention-driven. The creation and calculation of speaker meaning depend
on the speaker’s intentions. In contrast, a central and fundamental concept
of traditional psychoanalysis is the unconscious, that part of the mind to
which we have no primary or privileged access; indeed, its content is not
even given to us as a conscious mental state. Furthermore, these theories
assert that unconscious processes influence the processes that appear in
consciousness, and that through psychoanalytic work, the analyst can
uncover unconscious contents by examining linguistic utterances. The
psychoanalytic concept of the unconscious has been subject to criticism
based on numerous considerations in the philosophy of science; however, the
results of recently published research show that there are indeed motivated
slips of the tongue that alter the content of the slip according to the
stimulus presented to the subject, so it can be assumed that not all
theories of the unconscious are entirely without foundation. I do not wish
to commit to any particular theory of the unconscious at this time; my goal
is to examine how the role of unconscious mental contents in meaning-making
can be reconciled with a generally Gricean theory, in which the speaker’s
intentions determine linguistic meaning. The question is whether we have
unconscious intentions that participate in meaning-making, or whether
mental contents other than intentions can also participate in
meaning-making? In the latter case, does this possibility apply to
conscious mental contents as well, or not? The aim of my presentation is to
provide a detailed explanation of these claims, as well as to offer a brief
comparison of the methods of Therapeutic Discourse Analysis—which diverges
from the Gricean tradition but draws on psychoanalytic literature—with
Gricean theory, and to highlight potential points of convergence.

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The seminar is open to everyone, including students, visitors, and
faculty members from all departments and institutes! Format: 60 minute
lecture, coffee break, discussion.
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Organizers: Márton Gömöri and Zalán Molnár
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LPS - Logic and Philosophy of Science (Student and Faculty Seminar)
Department of Logic, Institute of Philosophy
Eötvös University Budapest
http://phil.elte.hu/lps