Fall, 2004

Instructor: Jack Temkin
Office: Smith House (1007 20th St.)
Telephone: 351–1568
Office Hours: 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. MWF and by appointment
E-mail: jack.temkin@unco.edu

Course Objectives

In this course, we will study some classics of Analytic Philosophy—the style of philosophy dominant in the English speaking world, Austria, and Scandinavia in the 20th Century. The authors we will read address a variety of issues from a variety of points of view. Which raises the question: what makes analytic philosophy analytic? We will address this question in the course of the seminar.

Texts

• Ammerman, Robert R., ed., Classics of Analytic Philosophy. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 1990.

Course Outline

1. The Early Analysts
   1. Bertrand Russell, “Descriptions,” pp.15–24
   2. Bertrand Russell, “What There Is,” pp. 25–34
   3. G.E. Moore, “A Defense of Common Sense,” pp.47–67
   4. G.E. Moore, “Proof of an External World,” pp. 68–84
2. Logical Positivism
   1. A.J. Ayer, “The Elimination of Metaphysics,” pp.111–120
   2. A.J. Ayer, “The Principle of Verification,” pp. 121–129
   3. W.V.O. Quine, “Two Dogmas of Empiricism,” pp.196–213
   4. Carl Hempel, “Problems and Changes in the Empiricist Criterion of Meaning,” pp.214–230
3. Linguistic Analysis
   1. John Wisdom, “Philosophy and Psycho-analysis,” pp.285–295
   2. Gilbert Ryle, “Systematically Misleading Expressions,” (Handout)
   3. Gilbert Ryle, Selections from The Concept of Mind, pp. 296–314
   4. P.F. Strawson, “On Referring,” pp. 315–334
   5. J.L Austin, “Other Minds,” pp. 353–378
   6. J.L. Austin , “A Plea for Excuses,” pp. 379–398

Evaluation of Student Performance

Students will submit a mid-term paper and a final paper. Each will count for one third of the final grade. The remaining third of the grade will be based on class participation.