SYLLABUS

Philosophy 416(500)

Recent British and American Philosophy

Spring 2008

MWF 1:50 p.m.–2:40 p.m. BOLTON 003

Instructor Information:

Robert W. Burch

209F Bolton Hall (Viktor K. Finn Laboratory)

845-2932

Office Hours: MWF 12:20 p.m.-1:50 p.m.

Textbook: W.V.O. Quine, From A Logical Point of View, Harvard

Timothy Williamson, Vagueness, Routledge

Douglas Walton, Abductive Reasoning, Alabama

Atocha Aliseda, Abductive Reasoning, Springer

Roy A. Sorensen, Blindspots, Clarendon

Purpose of Course: To introduce students to philosophy of language

Course Calendar:

Week no. Monday date Readings Topics

Week 1 January 14 Quine I, IV Things

Week 2 January 21 Quine VI, VII Things

Week 3 January 28 Williamson I Sorites

WEDNESDAY, JAN 30: EXAM 1

Week 4 February 4 Williamson II Precision

Week 5 February 11 Williamson III Vagueness

Week 6 February 18 Williamson IV Truth

Week 7 February 25 Williamson V Supertruth

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27: EXAM 2

Week 8 March 3 Williamson VI, VII Nihilism, Ignorance

SPRING BREAK, March 10-March 14

Week 9 March 17 Walton I Abduction

Week 10 March 24 Walton II, III Explanation

Week 11 March 31 Walton IV, V Causation

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2: EXAM 3

Week 12 April 7 Aliseda Abduction

Week 13 April 14 Aliseda Abduction

Week 14 April 21 Sorensen Sorites

Week 15 April 28 Sorensen Sorites

TUESDAY, MAY 6, 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. FINAL EXAM

Course Grade: Grade is determined by the four exam grades and the quality of class participation.

Honor code: Students are expected to abide by the Aggie Honor Code and to pledge and sign all work. See http://www.tamu.edu/aggie/honor/

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy Statement:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities, in Room 126 of the Koldus Building, or call 845-1637.

Exemplary Educational Objectives:

EEO1: To introduce students to several recent topics of British/American philosophy

EEO2: To acquaint students with several recent British/American philosophers

EEO3: To expand students’ reading, writing, analytical, and reasoning skills