About

James Taylor Higginbotham

Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Linguistics and Linda MacDonald Hilf Chair in Philosophy

Contact Information
E-mail: higgy@usc.edu
Phone: (213) 821-2308
Office: MHP 107

LINKS
Curriculum Vitae
 

Biographical Sketch
I have worked for most of my career on Philosophical problems that involve close connection with Logic and Linguistic issues, and on problems in Linguistic description and explanation that may be clarified by means of developments in mathematical and philosophical logic.
 

Education
B.S. Philosophy, Columbia University, 1/1967
Ph.D. Philosophy, Columbia University, 1/1973
 

Academic Appointment, Affiliation, and Employment History

Tenure Track Appointments
Professor, University of Southern California, 01/01/1999-  
Professor, University of Oxford, England, 06/01/1993-09/01/2000  
Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 07/01/1987-08/01/1993  
Associate Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 01/01/1982-01/01/1987  
Visiting Associate Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 01/01/1980-01/01/1982  
Senior Fellow in the Humanities, Columbia University, 01/01/1979-01/01/1980  
Assistant Professor, Columbia University, 01/01/1978-01/01/1979  
Mellon Fellow in the Humanities, Columbia University, 01/01/1976-01/01/1978  
Assistant Professor, Columbia University, 01/01/1973-01/01/1976  
Instructor, Columbia University, 01/01/1970-01/01/1973  
 

Visiting and Temporary Appointments
Enseignant Etranger, Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris, France, 10/01/2004-11/01/2004  
Nelson Philosopher in Residence, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 11/29/1999-12/03/1999  
Visiting Professor of Cognitive Science, Rutgers University, Spring 1998   
Visiting Researcher, University of Stuttgart, Germany, 07/01/1997-08/31/1997  
Visiting Professor of Philosophy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Fall 1996   
 

Description of Research

Summary Statement of Research Interests
Dr. Higginbotham's research includes both philosophical logic and philosophy of language, and theoretical linguistics, especially syntax and semantics. His most recent articles discuss the nature of linguistic competence, the problem of compositionality in language, and the role of first-person and demonstrative reference in thought and communication.
 

Research Keywords
Philosophy of Language and Mind, Theoretical Linguistics, semantics, tense, aspect, language, thought
 

Research Specialties
Philosophy of Language & Mind, Philosophical logic, Theoretical Linguistics
 

Conferences and Other Presentations

Conference Presentations
"Context and/or Anaphora", Linguistics Society of Italy, Keynote Lecture, Abstract, Pisa, Italy, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Invited, Fall 2008   
 

Publications

Book
Higginbotham, J. T. (2009). Tense, Aspect, and Indexicality. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
 

Book Chapter
Higginbotham, J. T. (2008). Evidentials: Some Preliminary Distinctions. pp. 22. Berlin: Springer Verlag.
Higginbotham, J. T. (2008). The English Perfect and the Metaphysics of Events. pp. 173-193. Berlin: Springer Verlag.
Higginbotham, J. T. (2007). Remarks on Compositionality. pp. 425-444. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Higginbotham, J. T. (2006). Languages and Idiolects: Their Language and Ours. pp. 140-148. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
 

Book Review
Higginbotham, J. T. (2009). On Jeffrey C. King, The Nature and Structure of Content. Philosophical Books. pp. 29-37.
 

Journal Article
Higginbotham, J. T. (2008). Expression, Truth, Predication, and Context. International Journal of Philosophical Studies. Vol. 16 (4), pp. 473-494.
 

Proceedings
Higginbotham, J. T. (2007). The Anaphoric Theory of Tense. pp. 26 pp.. Ithaca, NY. Cornell University Linguistics Publications.
 
 

Honors and Awards
USC Distinguished Professor, 1/2008-  
Fellow of the British Academy, 1995-  
Endowed Chair, Linda MacDonald Hilf Chair in Philosophy, 3/15/2004-  
Vera Brittain Visiting Fellow, Somerville College Oxford, 1/2009-7/2009  
Fulbright Award, Distinguished Professor of the Philosophy of Language, University of Venice Ca'Foscari, Venice, Italy, 4/2003-7/2003  
Visiting Fellow, All Souls College Oxford, 1/4/1990-4/20/1990  
 

Service to the University

Administrative Appointments
Chair, Department of Linguistics, 08/16/2006-08/15/2009  
Director, School of Philosophy, 09/01/2004-08/15/2007  
 

Service to the Profession

Editorships and Editorial Boards
Editorial Board, Oxford Cognitive Science, 1995-  
Associate Editor, The Journal of Philosophy, 1979-  
 
 
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