Postgraduate Course: Formal Methods in Philosophy MSc (PHIL11119)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Philosophy |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | In philosophy, a number of different mathematical and logical tools are often used to address philosophical problems. This presents an obvious challenge for anyone interested in these problems, namely
understanding the current research. This course is intended to be a general introduction to a variety of different formal tools (going beyond standard propositional and first-order logic) that are frequently used in various philosophical areas. The general aim is to provide an understanding of the basics of set theory, formal
semantics, propositional modal logic, conditionals, probability theory, decision theory, and game theory. The aim is also to give students an understanding of the philosophical problems that concern researchers in formal semantics, bayesian confirmation theory, decision theory, and game theory.
Formal Methods in Philosophy MSc is also shared with the undergraduate version Formal Methods in Philosophy (PHIL10140). |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Logic 1 (PHIL08004)
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Students should have passed Logic 1 (PHIL08004) or equivalent during their previous studies at another institution before taking this course. We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2012/13 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | G.06 Dugald Stewart Building | 1-11 | 09:00 - 10:50 | | | | |
| First Class |
Week 1, Monday, 09:00 - 10:50, Zone: Central. G.06 Dugald Stewart Building |
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
- A general understanding of the mathematical and logical tools often used in areas such as formal
epistemology, philosophy of language, and philosophical logic.
- An ability to apply these tools to various philosophical problems.
- An ability to engage with research that makes use of these tools. |
Assessment Information
| One 2500 word essay. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
1. Basic Set Theory, Propositional Logic, Lambda Abstraction,
2. Introduction to Formal Semantics and Type-Driven Interpretation.
3. Propositional Modal Logic
4. Conditionals
5. Probability Theory
6. Decision Theory
7. Game Theory |
| Transferable skills |
- An ability to approach and characterize problems in a rigorous and systematic way.
- An understanding of, and competence with, mathematical and logical tools applicable to problems in areas both within and outside of philosophy. |
| Reading list |
Jonathan Bennett (2003) ''Conditionals'', Oxford University Press.
Irene Heim and Angelika Kratzer (1998) ''Semantics in Generative Grammar'' Blackwell Publishing.
James McCawley (1993) ''Everything that Linguists Have Always Wanted to Know about Logic...But Were Ashamed to Ask'' 2nd edition, The Chicago University Press.
Graham Priest (2008) ''An Introduction to Non-Classical Logic'', 2nd edn. Cambridge University Press.
Michael Resnik (1987) ''Choices: An Introduction to Decision Theory'' University of Minnesota Press.
Michael Strevens (2006) ''Notes on Bayesian Confirmation Theory'', unpublished ms.
Theodore Sider (2010) ''Logic for Philosophy'', Oxford University Press.
Brian Weatherson (2008) ''Lecture Notes on Game Theory'', unpublished ms.
Jonathan Weisberg (2011) ''Varieties of Bayesianism'' In ''Handbook of the History of Logic'' (ed. Dov Gabbay, Stephan Hartmann and John Woods). |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Jesper Kallestrup
Tel:
Email: jesper.kallestrup@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Lynsey Buchanan
Tel: (0131 6)51 5002
Email: Lynsey.Buchanan@ed.ac.uk |
|
© Copyright 2012 The University of Edinburgh - 31 August 2012 4:33 am
|
University Homepage