Undergraduate Course: The Philosophy of Wittgenstein (PHIL10014)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course will study Wittgenstein's early and later philosophy, concentrating on the Tractatus Logico-philosophicus and Philosophical Investigations. |
| Course description |
This course will study Wittgenstein's early and later philosophy, concentrating on the Tractatus Logico-philosophicus and Philosophical Investigations. We will learn to read Wittgenstein's own work, especially the Tractatus and the later sections on rule-following and private language. The course will highlight the differences between his earlier view of language and his later view based on language-games, while also noting the considerable points of continuity in Wittgenstein's philosophy. This course is oriented around a single philosopher and his work, but attention will also be given to the connections between Wittgenstein's philosophy and enduring problems in philosophy as seen in the work of Plato, Descartes and Kant.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Knowledge and Reality (PHIL08017) AND
Mind, Matter and Language (PHIL08014)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students studying on MA Cognitive Science (Humanities) are permitted to take this course without having met the pre-requisites of Mind, Matter and Language and Knowledge and Reality. However, it is advisable that students discuss the suitability of the course with their PT and the course organiser before enrolling. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have completed at least 3 Philosophy courses at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses. Applicants should note that, as with other popular courses, meeting the minimum does NOT guarantee admission. These enrolments are managed strictly by the Visiting Student Office, in line with the quotas allocated by the department, and all enquiries to enrol in these courses must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. It is not appropriate for students to contact the department directly to request additional spaces. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
- to grasp and analyze central themes in Wittgenstein's later philosophy
- to identify and articulate problems in the interpretation of Philosophical Investigations
- to assess Wittgenstein's reasons for the views he advocates
- to grasp the nature of Wittgenstein's methodology in his later work
- to relate Wittgenstein's philosophising to that of historical and contemporary philosophers
- to evaluate Wittgenstein's contribution to modern philosophy
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Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr David Levy
Tel: (0131 6)50 9943
Email: david.levy@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Ann-Marie Cowe
Tel: (0131 6)50 3961
Email: Annmarie.Cowe@ed.ac.uk |
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