Syllabus for 20th Century Philosophy, Spring 1998
PHIL 105 - DR. KEITH A. KORCZ

How To Reach Professor Korcz:
My office is in the New Music Building, rm. 111. My office hours are  MW 12:30-1:00 & 3:30-4:00 and TThF 2:10-3:10. We can also meet at other times by arrangement - just ask. My office phone no. is 278-3631. You can also contact me (or ask questions) by e-mail at: keithk@csufresno.edu.

Required Texts:
1. Contemporary Analytic Philosophy, edited by James Baillie

2. Language, Truth and Logic, by A. J. Ayer

3. Human Knowledge and Human Nature, by Peter Carruthers

4. Course Pack
These should be available at the Kennel Bookstore in the Student Union.

Assignments & Grading:
There will be two midterm (each worth 15% of your course grade), a final exam (worth 20% of your course grade), and a paper done in successive drafts (The first official draft is worth 10% and the final official draft worth 40% of your course grade). You are free to show me as many drafts of the paper as you like prior to the time the final draft is due. Further details of the paper assignment, suggested topics, etc., will be provided later on a separate handout.
Your course grades will initially be determined according to the standard scale, i.e., 90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, 59% and below = F or U, and then may be modified as follows: Such factors as improvement over the length of the course, class participation, attendance, etc., may be taken into consideration, especially where doing so may improve a borderline grade. Course grades might be curved, but if so, the curve would not be such that any student's grade is lowered. You must complete all course assignments (namely all three exams and both drafts of the paper) to receive a passing grade (i.e., a grade other than F, NC or U).

Class Policies:
If you miss class, for whatever reason, it is your responsibility to get class notes from another student. Missed exams or other assignments can be made up only if an appropriate excuse, e.g., illness requiring medical attention, participation in certain official university events, etc., is provided. If you know in advance that you will miss an exam or due date for an assignment, let me know beforehand. Unexcused late assignments will be accepted, but will be dropped 2/3 of a letter grade per day they are late. If you have a disability and would like assistance with fulfilling class assignments, don't hesitate to notify the instructor and Disabled Student Services (278-2811). Finally, be sure you are familiar with the University policies regarding conduct of courses, described in the Catalog and Schedule of Courses.

COURSE CALENDAR & PLANNED READING ASSIGNMENTS

NOTE: Topics, readings and assignments are tentative and may be changed.

(CP) = Course Pack (CAP) = Contemporary Analytic Philosophy

Topic 1. Issues In Contemporary Analytic Philosophy (Week of Jan. 26)
(CP): "The Theory of Objects" by Alexius Meining; (CAP): Preface.
Topic 2. Frege & the Logicist Program (Weeks of Feb. 2, 9)
(CAP): p. 1-40.
FEB. 16 - PRESIDENT'S DAY - NO CLASSES

FIRST MIDTERM: FEB. 20

Topic 3. Russell & Logical Atomism (Weeks of Feb. 16, 23)
a. Russell's Critique of Meinong & Frege
(CAP) p. 41-47; (CP): "On Denoting" by Bertrand Russell.
b. The Details of Russell's View
(CP): "Definition of Number"; (CAP): "Descriptions"; (CP): "Classes" and "Mathematics and Logic", by Bertrand Russell.
c. Strawson's Critique of Russell
(CP): On Referring" by P. F. Strawson, "Mr. Strawson on Referring" by Bertrand Russell.

Topic 4. The Early Wittgenstein (Weeks of March 2, 9)
(CAP): p. 71-95.

SECOND MIDTERM: FRIDAY MARCH 20.

Topic 5. Ayer & Logical Positivism (Weeks of March 16, 23)
a. Philosophical Analysis and The Elimination of Metaphysics
Ayer: Introduction, Ch.s 1-3.
b. Empiricism
Ayer: Ch. 4-5; (CAP): "Empiricism, Semantics and Ontology" by Rudolf Carnap.

FIRST OFFICIAL DRAFT OF PAPER DUE: FRIDAY, APRIL 3.
APRIL 6-10 - SPRING BREAK - NO CLASSES - HAPPY PASSOVER & EASTER!

Topic 6. Against Empiricism (Week of March 30)
a. The Given
(CAP): "Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind" by Wilfrid Sellars
b. Analyticity
(CAP): "Two Dogmas of Empiricism" by W. V. Quine.

Topic 7. The Later Wittgenstein (Week of April 13)
CAP: "Philosophical Investigations" by Ludwig Wittgenstein

Topic 8. Kripke and the Causal Theory of Reference (Week of April 20)
(CAP): p. 394-419.

Topic 9. Contemporary Analysis and Reductionism (Week of April 27)
CP: "Introduction to Reduction, Explanation and Realism" by Kathleen Lennon and David Charles.

FINAL OFFICIAL DRAFT OF PAPER DUE: MONDAY, MAY 4

Topic 10: An Overview: Analysis and The Sources of Knowledge (Weeks of May 4, 11)
Carruthers: Chapters 1-6.

FINAL EXAM: MONDAY MAY 18, 1-3PM.