The following topics will be illustrated in detail:
(a) the so-called ‘Fregean paradigm’, i.e. the framework of concepts, methods and principles set out by Gottlob Frege to build up an artificial language to formalize mathematics – a framework that turned out to be essential also to the logical analysis of natural languages;
(b) the picture theory of language of Wittgenstein’s Tractatus logico-philosophicus;
(c) possible worlds semantics and Carnap’s intensional analysis;
(d) Kripke’s and Putnam’s theories of direct reference;
(e) Dummett’s criticism of realist semantics;
(f) Chomsky’s criticism of externalist semantics
(g) Themes from formal pragmatics.