Dear linguists, We write to let you know about an upcoming talk hosted by BULA: *The Linguistics of Existence* *Peter Klapes, M.A. candidate in Philosophy (Boston College)* *Monday, April 8 at 5:45pm, CAS 225* https://www.facebook.com/events/2203739999714132/ *Abstract: *It is said that the nature of the linguistic sign is arbitrary. Since antiquity, the question of whether words are linked to their referent by nature or merely by convention has persisted. In Plato’s *Cratylus*, Socrates realizes that names are often imperfect in the naming of any object. Later, sparking somewhat of a linguistic crisis, Friedrich Nietzsche questioned the nature of truth and Ferdinand de Saussure demonstrated that *signifiers* and *signifieds* share no inherent link. This concept of linguistic arbitrariness will, in this talk, be connected to philosophical, existential, and anthropological questions and themes—including freedom, poetics, politics, and the nature of the imagination. *Speaker bio: *Peter Klapes is a student in the department of philosophy at Boston College, specializing in contemporary continental philosophy, psychoanalytic theory, the intersection of philosophy and literature, and, generally, philosophical anthropology. Peter’s work has appeared in various philosophical journals, and he currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of *Dianoia*, BC’s international journal of philosophy. Later this year, Peter’s work on interpersonal subjectivity will appear in a book published by Fordham University Press. Peter also works on a bibliographic project in Modern Greek literature, serves on the advisory board of the Guestbook Project, an international forum for narrative hospitality, and is currently at work on a thesis on the hermeneutics of desire. We hope to see you there! (And as always, BULA T-shirts will be available for sale immediately prior to the event.) Best, Your BULA officers
