puzzles and paradoxes
Lecturer: Brian Rabern
Office: 4.04c, Dugald Stewart Building, University of Edinburgh
Office hours: Tues 11-12 and by appointment
Email: brian.rabern[at]ed.ac.uk
Course description. Paradoxes have formed a central topic of philosophical investigation, stretching back from Zeno of Elea up to David Lewis. Paradoxes figure both in influential arguments for philosophical theses and in famous (alleged) refutations of philosophical theses. This course provides an overview of a number of famous philosophical puzzles and paradoxes and important attempts to solve them. In so doing students will be introduced to some important issues in philosophy of language, philosophical logic, decision theory, and formal epistemology. The course will put emphasis on both methodology and philosophical content.
Time/Location:
Course Texts:
week | date | topic | read | group |
1 | Sainsbury: 1-3; Sorensen: 1-18 | |||
2 | The liar paradox | Rob | ||
3 | Russell's paradox | Sainsbury: 123-127; Sorensen: 316-332; Clark: 211-216; SEP: Russell's paradox | Bill & Rafe | |
4 | Paradox of the question | Archie & Ben | ||
5 | The sorites paradox | Alex & Meg | ||
6 | Cartwright's paradox | Nick & Henry | ||
7 | Surprise exam | Sainsbury: 107-120 Clark: 256-258; SEP: Epistemic paradoxes | Louise | |
8 | Muddy children | Walter & Jemima | ||
9 | Newcomb's paradox | Abby & Vanessa | ||
10 | St. Petersburg paradox | Sorensen: 232-234; Clark: 217-220; | Gabriel & Kara | |
11 | The truth machines |
Assessment:
Presentations: 20% of final grade
[participation (10%) + presentation (10%)]
Final essay: 80% of final grade
2500 words
due: Thursday 25th April 2019 by 12pm
MSc students: final essay only, 2500 words
due: Tuesday 23rd April 2019 by 12pm
Course related links:
Further resources: