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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences : Philosophy

Postgraduate Course: Formal Methods in Philosophy MSc (PHIL11119)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course is an introduction to a variety of different formal approaches to philosophy. In this course, core concepts from areas such as the following will be introduced and discussed:
1. Basic Set Theory.
2. Propositional Modal Logics.
3. Counterfactuals.
4. Probability Theory.
5. Decision Theory and Game Theory.

Formal Methods in Philosophy MSc is also shared with the undergraduate version Formal Methods in Philosophy (PHIL10140).

Formative feedback;
- opportunity to submit a formative essay by the week 6 closing deadline
- students will be asked to meet with course organiser to discuss a draft of their paper
Course description 1. Basic Set Theory, Propositional Logic, Lambda Abstraction,
2. Introduction to Formal Semantics and Type-Driven Interpretation.
3. Propositional Modal Logic
4. Conditionals
5. Probability Theory
6. Decision Theory
7. Game Theory
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Logic 1 (PHIL08004)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
- A general understanding of the mathematical and logical tools often used in areas such as formal
epistemology, philosophy of language, and philosophical logic.
- An ability to apply these tools to various philosophical problems.
- An ability to engage with research that makes use of these tools.
Reading List
Main Texts:
Barwise and Etchemendy (2011, 2nd ed) "Language, Proof and Logic:, CSLI Publications
Theodore Sider (2010) "Logic for Philosophy", Oxford University Press.
Brian Weatherson (2011) "The Logic of Decision", unpublished ms.
D.H. Mellor (2005) "Probability - A Philosophical Introduction", Routledge

Additional Literature:
Jonathan Bennett (2003) "Conditionals", Oxford University Press.
Graham Priest (2008) "An Introduction to Non-Classical Logic", 2nd edn. Cambridge University Press.
Michael Resnik (1987) "Choices: An Introduction to Decision Theory" University of Minnesota Press.
Michael Strevens (2006) "Notes on Bayesian Confirmation Theory", unpublished ms.
Jonathan Weisberg (2011) "Varieties of Bayesianism" In "Handbook of the History of Logic" (ed. Dov Gabbay, Stephan Hartmann and John Woods).
Kahneman and Tversky (1974) "Judgement under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases", Science, vol. 185
Kahneman and Tverysky (1979) "Prospect Theory - An Analysis of Decision under Risk", Econometrica, 47:2, 263-291
Additional Information
Course URL Please see Learn page
Graduate Attributes and Skills - An ability to approach and characterize problems in a rigorous and systematic way.
- An understanding of, and competence with, mathematical and logical tools applicable to problems in areas both within and outside of philosophy.
Additional Class Delivery Information The course is taught by Dr Anders Schoubye.
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Anders Schoubye
Tel:
Email: aschouby@exseed.ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Lynsey Buchanan
Tel: (0131 6)51 5002
Email: Lynsey.Buchanan@ed.ac.uk
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