English for Philosophers: Introduction to Analytic Philosophy (L/M)

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English for Philosophers : Introduction to Analytic Philosophy
 
First Semester 2016-2017
Monday 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm (beginning 19 September 2016)
Room : B 211
 
Apogée codes :
Licence : 
Master : 
 
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Course Description
 
What is analytic philosophy ? How should one understand this intellectual tradition which seems to define itself by its distance from traditional philosophy ? When we examine more closely the various manifestations of this thought from its origins through the present, we find that practically all its representatives share an uncompromising demand for the clarity of language and a certain mistrust of grand philosophical systems. However, the very term "analytic philosophy" remains ambiguous : there is no founding text, no coherent set of doctrines and no method to which all its adherents subscribe.
 
However one tries to define analytic philosophy, one must recognize its immense importance on the Anglo-American philosophical landscape, where it has occupied a privileged position for well over 50 years. By examining representative texts treating the philosophy of language, epistemology, moral philosophy, the philosophy of religion and the philosophy of mind, we will retrace the history of this tradition, from its origins in Europe in the first half of the 20th century to its more recent expressions. By studying this exceptionally pluralist tradition, we hope to better appreciate what is at stake in this "way", or rather, "ways" of doing philosophy.
 
This course has a double objective, philosophical and linguistic. We will, of course, study a number of texts and discuss their philosophical importance, but we will also familiarize ourselves with the English language and the language specific to contemporary Anglo-American philosophy. All texts will be provided in English. The French translations are available on this webpage.
 
This class will be conducted principally in English, and therefore, a minimum level of A2 is required for registration.
 
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Partial bibliography :
  • Roland Murphy, English Grammar in Use, 3rd ed., Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2004.
  • Judith Andreyev, Say it with Style ou comment réussir l’essai et l’entretien anglais, Rosny, Bréal, 1992.
  • A. P. Martinich and David Sosa (eds.), A Companion to Analytic Philosophy, Oxford, Blackwell Publishing, 2005.

?Online Resources :

 Requirements and Grading :
 
Students are required to attend class weekly and participate in class discussions. Grades will be based on the following :
 
- Class participation [20%],
- Oral presentation or Oral exam [40%], and the
- Final exam [40%].

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CALENDAR (Subject to modification - Last update : 06/11/2016)
 
 
?Week No. 1 (19 September 2016)
  • Orientation Week (Philosophy Department)


?Week No. 2 (26 September 2016)

  • General Introduction
  • Intellectual inventory
  • Critical Thinking Skills (handout)

For next week, read the short texts by A. J. Ayer and L. Wittgenstein on the handout "What is and what isn’t philosophy"? (brochure, pp. 3-4) What images of philosophy emerge from these texts? How do these images contrast with your previous philosophical readings?

 


?Week No. 3 (3 October 2016) → Class begins at 1:30 pm

  • Historical Overview of the Analytic Tradition (Part I)

For next week, read the extract from G. E. Moore’s "The Refutation of Idealism" (brochure, pp. 5-6). How would you summarize Moore’s criticism of the idealist’s claims?

 


?Week No. 4 (10 October 2016)

  • Historical Overview of the Analytic Tradition (Part II)
  • The Revolt against Idealism : G. E. Moore
    • "The Refutation of Idealism" (1903) (brochure, pp. 5-6)

For next class, read the extracts from Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (brochure, pp. 9-18). The text is very difficult, but the next two classes will be devoted to understanding Wittgenstein’s project.

 

 

?Week No. 5 (17 October 2016)

  • ?PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO CLASS THIS WEEK.

 

?Week No. 6 (24 October 2016)

  • Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) : Life and Work 

For a short but extremely accessible introduction to the work of Ludwig Wittgenstein, see Ray Monk’s How to Read Wittgenstein, London, Granta Books, 2005. Chapter 1 offers a helpful presentation of Wittgenstein’s rarely discussed review of P. Coffey’s The Science of Logic. Chapters 2-5 cover the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus.

 

 

???Week No. 7 (31 October 2016)

  • Ludwig Wittgenstein: Tractatus Logico-philosophicus (1921/22) (brochure, pp. 9-18)

 

?Week No. 8 (7 November 2016)

  • From the Tractatus to Logical Positivism and the Vienna Circle
  • Ludwig Wittgenstein : From the Cambridge Lectures to the Philosophical Investigations (brochure, pp. 19-26) - Part I

 

?Week No. 9 (14 November 2016)

  • Ludwig Wittgenstein : From the Cambridge Lectures to the Philosophical Investigations (brochure, pp. 19-26) - Part II
  • The relationship between philosophy and biography (ABC Radio Interview with Ray Monk); see pp. 49-56 in the brochure.

 

?Week No. 10 (21 November 2016)

  • Ordinary Language Philosophy
  • Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind

 

?Week No. 11 (28 November 2016)

  • Gilbert Ryle : The Concept of Mind (brochure, pp. 27-34)
  • John Searle and Problem of Consciousness
    • "Minds, Brains and Programs" (1960) (brochure, pp. 35-38)
  • Final Exam review

 

?Week No. 12 (5 December 2016)

  • Oral Presentations

 

?Week No. 13 (12 December 2016)

  • FINAL EXAM (Exam begins promptly at 12:15 pm)