Philosophy of Logic, Teaching
Sebastian Sequoiah-Grayson's Homepage
Topics
- Quantification and Existence
- Logical Pluralism
- Logical Consequence
- Truth, Propositions, Meaning and Paradox.
- Modality and Intensional Contexts
Topic: Quantification and Existence
Essay Question:
"To be is to be the value of a [bound] variable." Discuss.
Readings:
- Priest, G. (2005): Towards Non-Being: The Logic and Modality of Intentionality, Oxford University Press.
- Quine, W. V. O. (1949): On What There Is, reprinted in 'From a Logical Point of View', (1980) revised 2nd edition, Harvard University Press.
- Baldwin, T. (1979): 'Interpretations for Quantifiers', Mind, 88.
- Marcus, R. B. (1978): 'Nominalism and the Substitutional Quantifier', The Monist, 61, 3.
- Parsons, C. (1971): 'A Plea for Substitutional Quantification', The Journal of Philosophy, 68, 8.
- Lejewski, C. (1954): 'Logic and Existence', British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, 5, 18.
- Haack, S. (1978): Philosophy of Logics, ch. 4, Cambridge University Press.
Topic: Logical Pluralism
Essay Question:
What is the role of logic? Is there a One True Logic?
Readings:
- Beal, J.C. and Restall, G. (2006): Logical Pluralism, Oxford, Clarendon Press.
- Read, S. (1995): Thinking About Logic, Oxford University Press.
- Quine, W. V. O. (1986): Philosophy of Logic, 2nd edition, ch. 6-7, Harvard University Press.
- Haack, S. (1978): Philosophy of Logics, ch. 9, Cambridge University Press.
- Tharp, L. H. (1975): 'Which Logic is the Right Logic?', Synthese, 31, (1975).
- Pap, A. (1962): 'The Laws of Logic', from An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science, The Free Press.
Topic: Logical Consequence
Essay Question:
Is there a correct single definition of logical consequence? If so, then what is it? If not, then why not?
Readings:
- Beal, J.C. and Restall, G. (2006): Logical Pluralism, Oxford, Clarendon Press.
- Restall, G. (2000): An Introduction to Substructural Logics, ch. 16, Routledge.
- Tarski, A. (1956): On the Concept of Logical Consequence, from: Logic, Semantics, Metamathematics: Papers from 1923 to 1938 (trans. J. H. Woodger), Oxford, Clarendon Press.
- Etchemendy, J. (1988): 'Tarski on Truth and Logical Consequence', The Journal of Symbolic Logic, 53.
- Read, S. (1994): 'Formal and Material Consequence', Journal of Philosophical Logic, 23.
- Quine, W. V. O. (1986): Philosophy of Logic, 2nd edition, ch. 4, Harvard University Press.
- Anderson, A. R. and Belnap, N. D. (1962): 'The Pure Calculus of Entailment', The Journal of Philosophical Logic, 27.
- George, R. (1956): 'Bolzano's Concept of Consequence', The Journal of Philosophy, 83, 10.
Topic: Truth, Propositions, Meaning and Paradox.
Essay Question:
Is the Liar Sentence a Proposition?
Readings:
- Kirkham, R. L. (1997): Theories of Truth: A Critical Introduction, Ch. 9, MIT Press.
- Barwise, J. and Etchemendy, J. (1987): The Liar: An Essay on Truth and Circularity, Oxford University Press.
- Tarski, A. (1956): 'The Concept of Truth in Formalized Languages', in Logic, Semantics, and Metamathematics, New York, Oxford.
- Davidson, D. (1967): 'Truth and Meaning', Synthese, 17, (1976).
- Kripke S. (1975): 'Outline of a Theory of Truth', The Journal of Philosophy, 72, 19(1975).
- Field, H. (1972): 'Tarski's Theory of Truth', The Journal of Philosophy, 69, 13 (1972).
- Haack, S. (1978): Philosophy of Logics, ch. 8. Cambridge University Press.
- Quine, W. V. O. (1986): Philosophy of Logic, 2nd edition, ch. 1 and ch. 3, Harvard University Press.
Topic: Modality and Intensional Contexts.
Essay Question:
Expound several proposed solutions to the problem of intensional contexts. Which do you think is the best? Make reference to the debate surrounding modal logic(s) qua logic.
Readings:
- Kripke, S. (1980): Naming and Necessity, Blackwell.
- Chalmers, D. (2003): Two-Dimensional Semantics (there are other relevant papers here, although this one is the best place to start).
- Recanati, F. (2000): Opacity and the Attitudes, from A. Orenstein and P. Kotatko (eds.) Knowledge, Language and Logic, Kluwer.
- Kaplan, D. (1968-9): 'Quantifying In', Synthese, 19.
- Forbes, G. (1996): 'Substitutivity and the Coherence of Quantifying In', Philosophical Review, 105.
- Quine, W. V. O. (1956): 'Quantifiers and Propositional Attitudes', The Journal of Philosophy, 53, 5.
- Marcus, R. B. (1990): A Backwards Look at Quine's Animadversions on Modalities, from Perspectives on Quine, (ed. R. B. Barrett and R. F. Gibson) Blacwell.
- Hintikka, J. (1969): Semantics for Propositional Attitudes, from J. W. Davis et. al (eds.) Philosophical Logic, Reidel (1969), reprinted in (L. Linsky, ed.) Reference and Modality, Oxford Readings in Philosophy, Oxford University Press (1971).
- Carnap, R. (1955): Meaning and Synonymy in Natural Languages, reprinted in Naming and Necessity, Appendix D., The University of Chicago Press, (1956).
- Jubien, M. (1972): 'The Intensionality of Ontological Commitment', Nous, 51.
Contact details
email seb: sequoiah {at} gmail.com
email inky: inkythewhiteboardmarker {at} gmail.com
inky's twitter: @inkymarkerpen
