PHIL 3810: Senior Seminar, Spring 2005

Instructors:

Dr. Alexandra Cook cookgahkucc.hku.hk

Prof. Chad Hansen chansenhku.hk

Dr. Max Deutsch maxdeutschhkusua.hku.hk

Class meetings: Wednesdays, 3-5 pm, MB 305

Course Description:

PHIL 3810 is not a lecture course. All of you are expected to contribute—and contribute often—to our discussions. These discussions will center on a text, Ancient Worlds, Modern Reflections, by G.E.R. Lloyd, and a topic in the philosophy of language known as the normativity of meaning. In connection with the latter, we will be reading selections from the work of Saul Kripke and Robert Brandom among others.

Course Work:

Readings: There will be a lot of reading (a new assignment each week) and much of it will be difficult. You’re the elite. You can handle it.

Presentations: You will give several presentations over the course of the term. The presentations will be based on the week’s reading. Your job in the presentation will be to summarize and criticize the week’s reading. Presentations should be no longer than one hour. We encourage you to use handouts, the chalkboard, etc. in making your presentations.

Participation: During meetings at which you are not presenting material, you will participate by offering criticisms and suggestions to the poor soul who is presenting. Please participate often.

Papers: You will be writing 3 short (4-5 page) papers. This will challenge you to tackle several different problems/topics. Your papers can be based on your presentations, but they need not be.

Your grade in the Seminar will be based on the quality of your presentations, your participation, and your papers.

Schedule:

2 February: Introduction, Lloyd, ch. 1, pp. 1-11

16 February: Lloyd, ch. 4

Reports: Eric and Lawrence

23 February: Lloyd, ch. 5

Report: Charlie

2 March: Lloyd, ch. 7

Report: Claudia

9 March: Lloyd, ch. 8

Report: Michael

23 March: }

30 March: } Readings and Reports TBA

6 April: }

13 April: }

20 April: Lloyd, ch. 11

Report: ?

27 April: Lloyd, ch. 12

Report: ?