Metaphysics and Language

(last updated: December 1, 2023)

Summary

The course considers the methodology of analytic philosophy in form of philosophical analysis. One major focus of the course is the question how analysis affects different areas of philosophy. We consider the use of logic in providing analyses and how such logical analyses impact on, for example, metaphysics. In particular, we consider, among others, how the logical positivists attempted to show that metaphysics is meaningless, how Quine applies analyses to establish a better way of doing ontology, and how modern authors see the relationship between metaphysics and analysis.

Syllabus

You can see the syllabus: here

Reading Guide

You can see the reading guide: here

Sessions

1. Week: Introduction

   1. Session: Overview (slides)

   2. Session: Analysis (slides)

2. Week: Logic and Analysis

   1. Session: Reference (slides, Fregean Sense and Reference Triangles)

   2. Session: Logical Form (slides)

3. Week: Logical Atomism

   1. Session: Atomism (slides)

   2. Session: Analysis (slides)

4. Week: Meaningfulness

   1. Session: Logical Analysis (slides)

   2. Session: Logical Analysis (slides)

5. Week: Language and Ontology

   1. Session: Ontological Commitment (slides)

   2. Session: Ontologese (slides)

6. Week: Essay Plans

   1. Session: Essay Plans

   2. Session: Essay Plans

7. Week: Reading Week

8. Week: Paraphrase

   1. Session: Symmetry (slides)

   2. Session: Asymmetry (slides)

9. Week: Language and Reality

   1. Session: Things (slides)

   2. Session: Truthmaker (slides)

10. Week: Alternative Analyses

    1. Session: Analysis (slides)

    2. Session: Alienness (slides)

11. Week: Language and Language Change

    1. Session: 'Exists' (slides)

    2. Session: Change (slides)

12. Week: Semantics and Models

    1. Session: Semantics (slides)

    2. Session: Models (slides)