TEXTS:
W. V. O. Quine, Word
and Object.
Ludwig
Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations.
Hilary Putnam, The
Threefold Cord: Mind, Body, and World.
Articles on
Reserve.
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
We
will read and discuss a range of historical and recent papers and chapters in
order to survey answers that analytic philosophers have given to the
questions: (1) Is there a distinct philosophical method? (2) What is proper
philosophical method? (3) What can philosophers hope to accomplish with their
methods?
COURSE
REQUIREMENTS
Graduate
students: There will be two takehome exams, calling for short explications of
particular points in the work read. Each is worth 32% of the course grade. The
remaining 32% of the course grade will be determined by a more argumentative
paper devoted to identifying the best analytic position encountered in the
course of the semester and to a discussion of its strengths and weaknesses.
The remaining 4% will reflect the students consistent preparation and
participation in class.
Undergraduate
students: There will be two takehome exams, calling for short explications of
particular points in the work read. Each is worth 30% of the course grade. A
further 30% of the course grade will be determined by a more argumentative
paper devoted to identifying the best analytic position encountered in the
course of the semester and to a discussion of its strengths and weaknesses.
The remaining 10% will reflect the students consistent preparation and
participation in class. As evidence of such preparation, students are asked
and encouraged to regularly submit reactions to the readings by email prior to
class. While this seems on its face to be remarkably like the course
requirements for graduate students, the instructor will doubtless make
allowances for the fact that undergraduate students are not graduate students.
SCHEDULE:
| Date |
Readings |
Assignment/Event |
| 1/15 |
none |
|
| 1/17 |
Frege,
"Concept and Object," on reserve |
|
| 1/22 |
Russell,
"On Denoting," on reserve |
|
| 1/24 |
Carnap,
“The Elimination of Metaphysics Through the Analysis of Language,” on reserve |
|
| 1/29 |
Carnap,
“On the Character of Philosophical Problems,” on
reserve |
|
| 1/31 |
Carnap,
“Empiricism, Semantics, and Ontology.” |
|
| 2/5 |
Quine,
"Two Dogmas of Empiricism," on reserve |
|
| 2/7 |
Quine, Word
and Object, chapter 1 |
|
| 2/12 |
Quine,
chapter 2 |
|
| 2/14 |
Quine,
chapter 5 |
|
| 2/19 |
Quine,
chapter 6 |
Exam One
Given |
| 2/21 |
Quine,
chapter 7 |
|
| 2/26 |
Continued |
Exam One
Due |
| 2/28 |
TBA |
|
| 3/12 |
Quine,
"Epistemology Naturalized," on reserve |
|
| 3/14 |
Wittgenstein,
Philosophical Investigations, paragraphs 1-309. |
|
| 3/19 |
Continued |
|
| 3/21 |
Continued |
|
| 3/26 |
Continued |
|
| 3/28 |
Putnam,
The Meaning of Meaning" on reserve |
|
| 4/2 |
Continued |
|
| 4/4 |
Putnam,
"Why Is a Philosopher?" on reserve |
|
| 4/9 |
Putnam, The
Threefold Cord, chapter 1 |
|
| 4/11 |
Putnam,
chapter 2 |
|
| 4/16 |
Putnam,
chapter 3 |
|
| 4/18 |
Goodman, Ways
of Worldmaking, chapter |
|
| 4/23 |
TBA |
Exam Two
Given |
| 5/2 |
scheduled
final time10:30-12:30 |
Exam Two
and Course Paper Due |