| Unit name | Philosophical and Logical Theories of Truth |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHIL30122 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Horsten |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
N/A |
| Co-requisites |
N/A |
| School/department | Department of Philosophy |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit will examine recent work on the nature of truth, both from the perspective of philosophy and from that of logic. Topics covered will typically include the semantic paradoxes, formal theories of truth and the definition of the truth predicate, as well as deflationism and the correspondence theory.
By the end of the unit students will
demonstrate the ability to:
(1) demonstrate sophisticated knowledge and understanding of the leading formal theories of truth and definitions of the truth predicate and the bearing of these on the semantic paradoxes,
(2) critically compare and evaluate these formal theories of truth and definitions and to critically assess their application to the semantic paradoxes,
(3) demonstrate sophisticated knowledge and understanding of deflationism and the correspondence theory,
(4) critically evaluate deflationism and the correspondence theory and the arguments offered for and against them in the literature,
(5) research skills appropriate to level H/6.
1 lecture and 1 seminar per week
Formative: one 2,500 word essay designed to test ILOs (1)-(5)
Summative: 3 hour exam designed to test ILOs (1)-(4).
Field, Hartry. Saving Truth from Paradox. OUP, 2008.
Beall, A. C. Revenge of the Liar. OUP, 2007.
Kunne, Wolfgang. Conceptions of Truth. OUP, 2003.
