FIL2405: Philosophical Logic. Course Description. 13th August 2013. Overview.
This module introduces to logics that go beyond classical logic, in one way or ...
FIL2405: Philosophical Logic Course Description 13th August 2013
Overview This module introduces to logics that go beyond classical logic, in one way or another. We begin with extensions of classical logic and focus on systems of particular interest to philosophers: higher-order logic, plural logic, temporal logic (which studies tense) and modal logic (which studies the notions of necessity and possibility). Then, we turn to systems that modify classical logic to allow for new applications. Here, too, our guiding questions will be philosophical. We look at the logic of conditionals (which studies if-then statements) and intuitionistic logic (which is motivated by a particular brand of anti-realism). We will largely work with the following textbook: John Burgess, Philosophical Logic (Princeton University Press, 2009). As a reference, Graham Priest’s Introduction to Non-Classical Logic may be found helpful, too. In addition, there will be short texts specific to a topic, often just a few pages from an important article or book. You should read the texts for each topic in the order given. Text 1 is always the main text of the session. You must read it before the session.
Programme • Weeks 1-2: Classical First-Order logic 1. Burgess, ch. 1 2. Shapiro, “Classical Logic”, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy • Week 3-4: Second-Order Logic 1. Shapiro, Foundations Without Foundationalism, chapter 3 (bit.ly/18gcOoV) 2. Quine, Philosophy of Logic, pp. 64 – 68 3. Boolos 1975, pp. 509 – 518
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• Weeks 5-6: Plural logic 1. Linnebo SEP, §§1,2 2. Ben Yami 2009, §§1,2 3. Shapiro, Foundations Without Foundationalism, section 9.1.1. (bit.ly/19feS1B) • Weeks 7-8: Temporal logic 1. Burgess, ch. 2 2. Lowe, A Survey of Metaphysics, pp. 307-12 and 319-21 • Weeks 9-10: Modal logic 1. Burgess, ch. 3 2. Lewis, A Plurality of Worlds, pp. 1-20 3. Quine, Pursuit of Truth, pp. 73-4 • Weeks 11-12: Conditionals 1. Burgess, ch. 4 2. Lewis, Counterfactuals, pp. 1-19 and 31-36 • Weeks 13-14: Intuitionistic logic 1. Burgess, ch. 6 2. van Atten, On Brouwer, ch. 2
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