- Course Code
- PH 352Z
- Credit Points
- 30
- Course Coordinator
- Dr Gerry Hough
Pre-requisites
For PH352Z:This course is for students in Programme Year 3 or above. For PH452Z: This course is for student in Programme Year 4 only.
Overview
The basic aim of the course is to focus on philosophy of language issues and how they relate to broader metaphysical and epistemological discussions we will take Frege and Russell's work as paradigm examples of putting issues of language (and specifically, reference and truth) at the centre of their philosophical project. We'll start with Frege's philosophy of mathematics he presents himself an epistemological task: how could arithmetic be analytic or based purely on logical truths? In the process of carrying this task out (and opposing Idealism and empiricism), he develops a semantics which allows him to define number purely logically. The result: a coherent epistemology and metaphysics for arithmetic, and a new philosophical method (the linguistic turn-solving epistemological problem by answering question about meaning and reference). We then turn our attention to the semantics Frege develops. Two distinct problems arise: (i) Russell's paradox, and the inconsistency of the system as it stands; (ii) Frege's Puzzle. We'll deal with each in turn. For the former, we will try to evaluate what the paradox might teach us about semantics. For the latter, we will see how semantics might be modified to deal with the puzzle. We will also focus on Russell's alternative account of reference and extension, and explain how he used it to develop a general metaphysics and epistemology -Logical Atomism.
Structure
1 x 90 minute lecture, plus 1 x 90 minute tutorial for Level 3 students, plus 1 x 90 minute student-led seminar for Level 4 students per week. (Thus, each student will have 3 contact hours per week.) Tutorials/seminars begin in week 2.
Assessment
Level 3 students
1 x 2500 word essay (50%) plus 1 x 2 hour exam (50%)