The topics of this lecture are epistemology and philosophy of language. To see the basics of the topics, classical and contemporary
approaches in the areas are discussed.
Epistemology is a philosophical realm in which various problems concerning knowledge are treated, and philosophy of language
is one in which problems concerning meaning and use of language are studied. The purpose of this lecture is to survey contemporary
discussion in the realms. Participants are expected to develop their own philosophical views in those areas, and be able to
defend it. Through the practice, the lecture aims to give participants a basic training on analytic philosophy.
- To explain the problems and philosophical backgrounds of topics in epistemology (from skepticism to Gettier problem) and in philosophy of language (from the theory of description to analysis of necessity).
- To explain how each major approach solve the corresponding trouble.
- To explain problems of major approaches to the epistemic problems, and criticize them.
| Class schedule | HW assignments (Including preparation and review of the class.) | Amount of Time Required | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Introduction: Basics in philosophical discussions, Problems in philosophy of language and epistemology: Why language and knowledge? | Reading the course syllabus | 40minutes |
| 2. | Epistemology (1) Introduction: Cartesian doubt | Reading handouts and available materials | 60minutes |
| Reexamine problems and questions from the last lecture | 60minutes | ||
| Preparing for the final paper | 60minutes | ||
| 3. | Epistemology (2) Moore | Reading handouts and available materials | 60minutes |
| Reexamine problems and questions from the last lecture | 60minutes | ||
| Preparing for the final paper | 60minutes | ||
| 4. | Epistemology (3) Relevantism | Reading handouts and available materials | 60minutes |
| Reexamine problems and questions from the last lecture | 60minutes | ||
| Preparing for the final paper | 60minutes | ||
| 5. | Epistemology (4) Contextualism | Reading handouts and available materials | 60minutes |
| Reexamine problems and questions from the last lecture | 60minutes | ||
| Preparing for the final paper | 60minutes | ||
| 6. | Epistemology (5) Pyrhonian problematic | Reading handouts and available materials | 60minutes |
| Reexamine problems and questions from the last lecture | 60minutes | ||
| Preparing for the final paper | 60minutes | ||
| 7. | Epistemology (6) Coherentism | Reading handouts and available materials | 60minutes |
| Reexamine problems and questions from the last lecture | 60minutes | ||
| Preparing for the final paper | 60minutes | ||
| 8. | Epistemology (7) Foundationalism | Reading handouts and available materials | 60minutes |
| Reexamine problems and questions from the last lecture | 60minutes | ||
| Preparing for the final paper | 60minutes | ||
| 9. | Epistemology (8) Gettier Problem | Reading handouts and available materials | 60minutes |
| Reexamine problems and questions from the last lecture | 60minutes | ||
| Preparing for the final paper | 60minutes | ||
| 10. | Philosophy of language (1) Frege's Puzzle | Reading handouts and available materials | 60minutes |
| Reexamine problems and questions from the last lecture | 60minutes | ||
| Preparing for the final paper | 90minutes | ||
| 11. | Philosophy of language (2) Meaning and denotation | Reading handouts and available materials | 60minutes |
| Reexamine problems and questions from the last lecture | 60minutes | ||
| Preparing for the final paper | 90minutes | ||
| 12. | Philosophy of language (3) The theory of descriptions | Reading handouts and available materials | 60minutes |
| Reexamine problems and questions from the last lecture | 60minutes | ||
| Preparing for the final paper | 90minutes | ||
| 13. | Philosophy of language (4) Necessity | Reading handouts and available materials | 60minutes |
| Reexamine problems and questions from the last lecture | 60minutes | ||
| Preparing for the final paper/Preparing for the final | 180minutes | ||
| 14. | Final Review |
Reading handouts and available materials | 60minutes |
| Preparing for the paper | 90minutes | ||
| Preparing for the final | 90minutes | ||
| Total. | - | - | 2650minutes |
| Final | Essay | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 20% | 20% | |
| 2. | 20% | 20% | 40% |
| 3. | 20% | 20% | 40% |
| Total. | 60% | 40% | - |
N/A
The following are a part of materials treated in the course:
・Rene Descartes, Meditation
・G.E. Moore "The Proof of the External World"
・W.V.O. Quine, "Two Dogmas of Empiricism"
・E. Gettier, "Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?"
・G. Frege, "On Sense and Reference"
・B. Russell, "On Denoting"
The following are a part of materials treated in the course:
・Rene Descartes, Meditation
・G.E. Moore "The Proof of the External World"
・W.V.O. Quine, "Two Dogmas of Empiricism"
・E. Gettier, "Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?"
・G. Frege, "On Sense and Reference"
・B. Russell, "On Denoting"
- Office hours: Wednesday lunch break
Preferred contact method: email
- Course that cultivates an ability for utilizing knowledge
Last modified : Wed Oct 17 07:38:04 JST 2018