Choose one of the following two prompts and write a short essay – 4000-5000 characters (without spaces) – in response. In your essay, make sure to clearly explain the philosophical concepts you are using, as well as the example you are focusing on.
A. Find a question about meaning/interpretation, perhaps from your own discipline,
and discuss: (i) What is the object of the interpretation, i.e. the “thing” or “text” that
is interpreted (you may, but do not have to, specify this in terms of intentional
states)?; (ii) What is the goal of the interpretation, i.e. what sort of meaning is one
searching for?; and (iii) Does this example allow for the distinction between correct
and incorrect interpretation? How, or why not? Develop your answer in relation to
the course literature. You must engage explicitly with the Carlshamre text (at
minimum two direct quotations).
B. Discuss in connection with some concrete examples, perhaps from your own
discipline: (i) What it means to say that something is a “social construction”; (ii) Is the
question whether something is socially constructed or not important?; and (iii) Why
(not)? Use the course literature to develop your answer. You must engage explicitly
with the Carlshamre text (at minimum two direct quotations).