Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2017 - PHIL 302 D100

Topics in Epistemology and Metaphysics (3)

Naturalism, Truth and Logic

Class Number: 6833

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 5 – Dec 4, 2017: Mon, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 5 – Dec 4, 2017: Wed, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    PHIL 201 or 203.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An exploration of philosophical issues concerning, e.g.: causation, time, modality, or the self; the realism/nominalism or realism/idealism debate; relativism; the concept of truth; naturalized epistemology; global epistemological skepticism or perhaps a 'local' form of skepticism such as skepticism about induction or about sensory belief. May be repeated for credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

 

Selected Topics: NATURALISM, TRUTH, AND LOGIC

Philosophical naturalism is roughly the view that all epistemic justifications are empirical in nature. There are no a priori, analytic, or necessary truths, and in particular no such truths of logic. But then what, if anything, makes the (would-be) truths of logic true?  What are they about?  Or at least, what explains their central role in rational thought? This course considers and compares two recent accounts of logic.  Both accounts accept a ‘disquotational’ conception of truth per se.  Both reject the Law of the Excluded Middle, but for very different reasons. Maddy’s (recent) vision of logic, inspired by a version of naturalism she calls ‘Second Philosophy’, takes logic to be about certain general, objective, structural features of the natural world.  Field’s (recent) vision of logic is a kind of pragmatic ‘expressivism’, compatible with logical revision and logical pluralism, expressing not features of the natural world but imperatives of rational thought, and importantly motivated by the need to address paradoxes of truth as we find them in natural language.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

To develop an informed and reasoned critical perspective on the scope of philosophical naturalism as a philosophical methodology, by exploring recent work on the nature of truth, and of logical truth in particular.

Grading

  • 2 shorter papers (about 1800 words each) worth 25% each 50%
  • A longer term paper (about 3600 words) 40%
  • 2 short take-home assignments (about 300 words each) 10%

NOTES:

In the 2 equally weighted short take-home assignments, involving not more than a page (about 300 words) of writing, distributed in class and due the following class, you will be asked to simply unpack and explain certain identified passages from your currently assigned reading.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

The Logical Must, by Penelope Maddy, Oxford University Press (2014); ISBN: 9780199391752, about 125 pp. (on order from SFU Bookstore)

Second Philosophy: A Naturalistic Method, also by Penelope Maddy, OUP (2007), ISBN: 9780199566242, especially Pts. II and III, about 190 pp., concerning truth and logic (available on-line through SFU Library)

Other related work, mostly available on-line through SFU Library, including work by Alfred Tarski, W.V.O. Quine, Hartry Field (early and recent), Stephen Leeds, Saul Kripke, and Gila Sher.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS