Syllabus
Meeting:
Time: Mondays, 7pm-9.50pm
Location: Harper 65
Instructor:
Masahiro Yamada (page at CGU)
email: masahiro.yamada@cgu.edu
phone: 909.607.0471
Office Hours: Tuesdays 10-12 or by appointment (Office 3, Blaisdell House, 143 East 10th Street)
Course Description:
We will be surveying some central works in the development of what is known as analytic philosophy. Our focus will be on the arguments and not the claims argued for. We will critically examine the arguments and, hopefully, deepen our own understanding of the issues discussed.
Required texts:
- Frege, G., Foundations of Arithmetic
- Ayer, A.J., Language, Truth and Logic
- Wittgenstein, L., Philosophical Investigations
- Kripke, S., Naming and Necessity
Additional material will be made available for download. See the readings page.
Weekly Requirements:
Participation is expected and encouraged. Occasionally (often), the reading assignment for the week will be accompanied by some questions on the reading. Students are expected to be able to present their thoughts on the questions in class.
Papers:
Students are required to write three papers. The first is due at the beginning of class of week 7. The second is due at the beginning of class of week 12. The final is due January 8, 2007. All deadlines are strict. For the first two papers, students will be given a choice of topics. For the final paper, students should pick a recent article dealing with one of the issues covered and critically discuss it. Students must consult with the instructor before proceeding with the paper.
Grading Policy:
In order to pass this course, a student must submit all three papers. Once all three papers are submitted, a raw grade will be determined as the average of the three. This raw grade will then be tweaked up or down depending on: change of performance over the semester, participation.
