This course provides an overview of some leading developments in metaphysics in the analytic tradition over the last century. It does so by juxtaposing a more-or-less conventional story about the fate of metaphysics during that period with a story about a tradition with roots in German idealism and American pragmatism. Particular attention is paid to the conceptual resources that philosophers have developed as they ask and answer different metaphysical questions. Topically, the course focuses on two problems that the metaphysician has historically addressed: the problem of modality (paradigmatically, concerning necessity and possibility), and the problem of the place of rational or rule-governed persons in the natural world.
The course will run in 2 hour sessions over 4 days, from 12.00-14.00 in room 115
Course instructor
Dr. Preston John Stovall, University of Hradec Králové
Schedule
9. May - The Logical Foundations of 20th-Century Metaphysical Research
10. May - Modal Realism and Modal Expressivism
13. May - Case Study: The Metaphysics of Modality
14. May - Case Study: The Metaphysics of Intentionality
Readings
Each session will have 6-10 essays and chapters as background, of which 2-4 will generally be required reading. A full reading list can be found here/ifikk/english/research/news-and-events/events/phd/2019/reading-list.html
Assessment
In order to obtain 3 ECTS for the course the PhD Candidates must follow the all sessions and produce a research paper of approximately 4000-5000 words engaging with some topic, view, or figure discussed in the course. Deadline for paper tbc.
Application deadline
Please apply by sending a CV and a short account of your reason for wishing to participate to pia.sondergaard@ifikk.uio.no. The application deadline is May 6 2019.