PY430-6-AU-CO:
Topics in Analytic Philosophy
2024/25
Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 13 December 2024
15
04 April 2024
Requisites for this module
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"Analytic Philosophy" is a (sometimes controversial) term that is commonly used to describe the dominant philosophical tradition in the English-speaking world for much of the 20th century. This module shall introduce students to some of the classic texts from this tradition and explore the philosophical techniques, arguments, and positions that were developed within it.
The specific focus of the module will vary year-on-year; examples include topics from analytic philosophy of mind and metaphysics (the mind-body problem; personal identity; consciousness and “qualia”…), and topics from analytic philosophy of language (what is meaning? How do names and descriptions refer to objects? Does context make a difference to the meaning of what we say, and does what we say shape the context in return?...)
The aims of this module are:
- To develop a sound knowledge of the major figures and themes of analytic philosophy
- To undertake a close assessment and evaluation of selected classics from the analytic tradition
- To gain an in-depth understanding of at least one major theme or problem in analytic philosophy of mind or in analytic metaphysics
- To be able to engage deeply with some of the characteristic techniques of the analytic tradition, including (for example) conceptual and linguistic analysis, ordinary language philosophy, the use of thought experiments
- To develop the ability to subject writings in the analytic tradition to a sustained critique, that is, to produce a sustained line of argument and a rigorous critical analysis that shows signs of originality
- Understand major problems, themes and positions developed within the analytic tradition
- Provide critical and differentiated reconstructions of arguments and disputes associated with the analytic tradition.
- Write an extended essay that provides both accurate and accessible reconstruction and an original critical assessment of positions and arguments from the analytic tradition.
- Explain in detail select central concepts in analytic philosophy of mind and metaphysics.
- Generate insightful analyses of the characteristically dense form of argumentation used in analytic philosophical writings.
- Construct clearly argued and sustained lines of arguments that shed light on the positions in the assigned readings.
- Demonstrate independence and originality of thought.
Indicative syllabus
- Introduction to Early Analytic Philosophy
- Thoughts and Senses
- Objectivity and Names
- Subjectivity and Indexicals
- The Paradox of Rule-Following
- “The Private Language Argument”
- Causes and Reasons
- The Indeterminacy of Translation
- The Limits of Thought
This module will be delivered via:
- Nine 2-hour lectures
- Nine 1-hour seminars
The two-hour weekly lectures will typically be interactive: students are expected to have read the key text(s) for each week in advance, and to be active during class.
It is expected that they will read the essential texts at the pace of the lectures and as part of their weekly preparation work for the seminars.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Essay Plan (2 pages, Pt 12) |
|
35% |
| Coursework |
Essay (2500 words) |
|
50% |
| Practical |
Moodle Reading Quizzes TOTAL (best 2 of 3 quizzes) |
|
15% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Yes
No
Yes
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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