معرفی
Eric Swanson is a Professor of Philosophy and Linguistics at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he has been teaching since 2006. He serves as Placement Director and Course Scheduler for the Department of Philosophy within the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. His office is located in Angell Hall, where he holds regular office hours for students.
Dr. Swanson received his academic training from prestigious institutions:
- Ph.D. in Philosophy (minor in Linguistics), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006
- M.A. in Philosophy, Tufts University, 2001
- M.A. in Slavic Languages and Literatures, Yale University, 1999
- B.A. in Literature, Bard College, 1997
Professor Swanson's research spans multiple interfaces between language and philosophical domains. His current work focuses on social and political philosophy of language and metaethics, particularly examining how language force extends beyond apparent information shared among discourse participants. He has made significant contributions to understanding relationships between language and epistemology (epistemic modals and conditionals), language and metaphysics (causal talk), and language and ethics (deontic modals). His theoretical frameworks include 'constraint semantics' and 'ordering supervaluationism,' providing innovative approaches to linguistic theorizing across these domains.
His recent publications reveal a trajectory moving from technical linguistic-philosophical work toward more socially and politically engaged analyses of language. The most recent articles increasingly address issues of ideology, normativity, and political dimensions of language use while maintaining rigorous formal approaches. His work consistently bridges analytic philosophy of language with broader social concerns, demonstrating how technical linguistic phenomena connect to larger questions about power, ideology, and social structure.
Professor Swanson has taught a diverse range of courses from introductory philosophy to specialized graduate seminars. In Fall 2025, he will teach the graduate proseminar for first-year Ph.D. students and Philosophy 340 (Minds and Machines). His undergraduate teaching includes Introduction to Philosophy, Philosophy and Narrative, Introduction to Formal Philosophical Methods, Minds and Machines, Language and Mind, and specialized courses on Philosophy of Language with a focus on contemporary AI. At the graduate level, he has taught numerous proseminars and specialized courses on topics including metasemantics, normative language, social and political philosophy of language, underdetermination, and discourse constraints on anaphora.
