PHIL
309: Twentieth Century Analytic Philosophy
LARKIN:
Spring 2003
________________________________________
DATE: 1-14-03
I.
Objectives
A.
Give
a general sense of what twentieth century analytic philosophy is—its themes,
schools, and historical context.
B.
Lay
out course objectives, procedures, and expectations.
II.
Discussion: What is Philosophy?
III.
Lecture:
A.
Change
in Philosophical Climate and Conduct
B.
Themes
of Analytic Philosophy
1.
Nature
of Philosophy (Meta-Philosophy)
2.
Realism
and Empiricism
3.
Meaning
and Ontology
C.
Historical
Context
1.
Two-Dimensional
Map of Philosophical Space
2.
Absolute
Idealism and Analytic Philosophy
D.
Schools
|
School |
Figures |
Critique
of Traditional Philosophy |
Function
of New Philosophy |
Analysis |
|
Common
Sense Realists |
Moore,
Russell, (Frege) |
|
|
|
|
Logical
Atomists |
Russell,
Early
Wittgenstein |
|
|
|
|
Logical
Positivists |
Ayer,
Carnap |
|
|
|
|
Ordinary
Language Philosophy |
Austin, Later
Wittgenstein |
|
|
|
|
Logico-Linguistic
Metaphysics |
Quine, Davidson, Sellars, Burge |
|
|
|
IV.
Discussion: Go Over Syllabus
V.
Next
Time
A.
Topic:
Moore’s Common Sense Realism
B.
Reading: Moore Selections (Handout)
C.
Reading Questions:
1.
In
what sense does Moore try to refute idealism?
2.
What
is the key idealist premise that Moore attacks, and what is the only sense it
can have if it is to be both true and important?
3.
What
is wrong with the significant version of the premise?
4.
Explain
how Moore analyzes the proposition “Material things exist”.
5.
What
is Moore’s proof that things exist outside of us? What are the conditions of an adequate proof, and how does
Moore’s proof meet those conditions?