Roots of analytic philosophy PHIL 3104
Winter 2010 David Matheson Tue & Thu 2:35-3:55 p.m. 3A45 Paterson Hall 129 Paterson Hall 613-520-2600 ext. 1928 [email protected] Office hours: Tue & Thu 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Description
In this course we will explore the roots of analytic philosophy by examining some central metaphysical, epistemological, and metaphilosophical themes from three of its founding figures: G.E. Moore, Bertrand Russell, and Ludwig Wittgenstein. Background and context readings will be drawn from George Berkeley, F.H. Bradley, and Gottlob Frege. The main objectives are to engage the topics considered as live philosophical issues to be addressed in their own right, and to advance our own philosophical perspectives as a result. You should be prepared to do some philosophy for yourself in this course, not merely to memorize and regurgitate historical facts about what the philosophers we will consider said about the topics addressed.
Readings and texts
A number of readings for the course will be drawn from the following texts, which can be purchased at the university bookstore:
Bertrand Russell, The philosophy of logical atomism (Chicago: Open Court, 1985)
Ludwig Wittgenstein, The blue and brown books (New York: Harper & Row, 1960)
The remaining readings, listed below, will for the most part be drawn from free online sources:
George Berkeley, Introduction and §§1-33 of A treatise concerning the principles of human knowledge http://www.class.uidaho.edu/mickelsen/texts/Berkeley%20-Treatise.txt
F.H. Bradley, Introduction and Chapter IV of Appearance and reality http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Appearance_and_Reality
G.E. Moore, The refutation of idealism http://www.ditext.com/moore/refute.html
G.E. Moore, The nature of judgment http://fair-use.org/mind/1899/04/the-nature-of-judgment
G.E. Moore, Proof of an external world To be made available by instructor (Proceedings of the British Academy, 1939)
G.E. Moore, A defence of common sense http://www.ditext.com/moore/common-sense.html
Gottlob Frege, The thought: A logical inquiry To be made available by instructor (Mind, 1956 [1918])
Gottlob Frege, On sense and reference http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/On_Sense_and_Reference
2 Evaluation
Short essays. (2x25% = 50% of overall grade.) During the term, you will be required to write two short essays (each approximately three pages, or 900 words in length) on assigned topics. The first of these short essays will be due on February 11, the second on March 25.
Final essay. (50% of overall grade.) In lieu of a sit-down final examination, you will also be expected to write a final essay (approximately ten pages, or 3,000 words in length) on an assigned topic. The essay will be due on the final day of the winter term’s examination period, April 24.
Calendar
Week 1 (Jan 5 & 7) Modern British idealism (I) Berkeley, Introduction and §§1-33 of Principles of human knowledge Week 2 (Jan 12 & 14) Modern British idealism (II) Bradley, Introduction and Chapter IV, Appearance and reality Week 3 (Jan 19 & 21) Moore’s realist revolt (I) Moore, The refutation of idealism Week 4 (Jan 26 & 28) Moore’s realist revolt (II) Moore, The nature of judgment Week 5 (Feb 2 & 4) Russell’s logical atomism (I) Russell, Philosophy of logical atomism, Lectures I-III; Frege, The thought: A logical inquiry Week 6 (Feb 9 & 11) Russell’s logical atomism (II) Russell, Philosophy of logical atomism, First short essay due, Feb 11 Lectures IV&V Week 7 (Feb 16 & 18) Winter break Week 8 (Feb 23 & 25) Russell’s logical atomism (III) Russell, Philosophy of logical atomism, Lectures VI&VIII; Frege, On sense and reference Week 9 (Mar 2 & 4) Moore’s common sense Moore, Proof of an external world epistemology (I) Week 10 (Mar 9 & 11) Moore’s common sense Moore, A defence of common epistemology (II) sense Week 10 (Mar 16 & 18) Wittgenstein on philosophy & Wittgenstein, Blue book ordinary language (I) Week 11 (Mar 23 & 25) Wittgenstein on philosophy & Wittgenstein, Brown book ordinary language (II) Second short essay due, Mar 25 Week 12 (Mar 30 & Apr 1) Wittgenstein on philosophy & Wittgenstein, Brown book (cont’d) ordinary language (III)
3 Department of Philosophy and Carleton University Policies
Assignments: made during the first two weeks of class, or as soon as possible after Unless specifically told otherwise by their instructors, students: the need for accommodation is known to exist, but no later than two must not use a plastic or cardboard cover or paper clips weeks before the compulsory academic event. Accommodation is to must staple the paper be worked out directly and on an individual basis between the student must include the following in the lower right corner of the cover and the instructor(s) involved. Instructors will make accommodations sheet: in a way that avoids academic disadvantage to the student. student name Students or instructors who have questions or want to confirm student number accommodation eligibility of a religious event or practice may refer to course number and section the Equity Services website www.carleton.ca/equity/holy_days/ for a instructor’s name list of holy days and Carleton’s Academic Accommodation policies.
• The Philosophy Department does not accept assignments by FAX. You may send them by courier, if necessary. For Pregnancy: Pregnant students requiring academic • No assignments will be accepted after the last day for handing in accommodations are encouraged to contact an Equity Advisor in Equity term work. Services to complete a letter of accommodation. The student must • Assignments handed in through the essay box (just inside the then make an appointment to discuss her needs with the instructor at glass doors, Paterson Hall, Floor 3A) must be dropped into the box least two weeks prior to the first academic event in which it is by 4:15 on a regular business day in order to be date‐stamped anticipated the accommodation will be required. with that day’s date. Assignments handed in after 4:15 or on a non‐business day will be stamped as having been handed in on Important Dates: the next business day. • Students are required to keep copies of their assignments. If your Jan. 4 Winter term classes begin. paper is lost at any point, you will be considered not to have Jan. 15 Last day for registration and course changes in Winter submitted it if you cannot produce a copy immediately on term classes. request. Jan. 31 Last day for entire fee adjustment when withdrawing from winter courses or winter portion of two‐term Deferrals for Term Work: courses. If you miss a final examination and/or fail to submit a final assignment Feb. 15‐19 Winter Break, classes suspended. by the due date because of circumstances beyond your control, you Mar. 12 Last day to withdraw from Fall/Winter and Winter may apply for a deferral of examination/assignment. For deferred term courses (academic purposes only). examinations, you must apply within 5 working days after the Mar. 24 Last day for tests or examinations in courses below scheduled date of your exam. To apply for deferral of a final 4000 level before the Final Examination period. assignment, you must apply within 5 working days of the last scheduled Apr. 5 Last day of Fall/Winter and Winter term classes. day of classes. Visit the Registrar’s Office for more information. Apr. 7 Winter term ends; last day for handing in term assignments, subject to any earlier course deadline. Plagiarism: Apr. 8‐24 Final Examinations.
It is the responsibility of each student to understand the meaning of ‘plagiarism’ as defined in the Undergraduate or Graduate Calendars, Addresses: and to avoid both committing plagiarism and aiding or abetting Department of Philosophy: 3A46 Paterson Hall plagiarism by other students. (Undergraduate Calendar Academic www.carleton.ca/philosophy Regulations, section 14.3, page 56 or 520‐2110 http://www.carleton.ca/cu0809uc/regulations/acadregsuniv14.html#1 Registrar’s Office: 300 Tory 4.3 www.carleton.ca/registrar 520‐3500 Academic Accommodation: Student Academic Success Centre: 302 Tory www.carleton.ca/sasc For Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities 520‐7850 requiring academic accommodations in this course must register with Paul Menton Centre: 500 University Centre the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities (PMC) for a www.carleton.ca/pmc formal evaluation of disability‐related needs. Documented disabilities 520‐6608 include but are not limited to mobility/physical impairments, specific Writing Tutorial Service: 4th Floor, Library Learning Disabilities (LD), psychiatric/psychological disabilities, sensory www.carleton.ca/wts disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and 520‐6632 chronic medical conditions. Registered PMC students are required to MacOdrum Library www.library.carleton/ca contact the PMC every term to have a Letter of Accommodation sent to 520‐2735 the Instructor by their Coordinator. In addition, students are expected to confirm their need for accommodation with the Instructor no later than two weeks before the first assignment is due or the first in‐class test/midterm. If you require accommodations only for formally scheduled exam(s) in this course, you must request accommodations by the last official day to withdraw from classes in each term.
For Religious Observance: Students requesting academic accommodation on the basis of religious observance should make a formal, written request to their instructors for alternate dates and/or means of satisfying academic requirements. Such requests should be