20th Century Anglo-American Philosophy

Phil. 176

20th Century
Anglo-American Philosophy

Philosophy 176
Fall Semester 2008

Prof. Dowden

Catalog description: The rise of the analytic tradition in contemporary Anglo-American philosophy represents a turn toward common sense, science, language, logic and rigor. Readings will cover the philosophical movements of common sense, logical atomism, logical positivism, ordinary language philosophy and more recent analytical philosophy. 3 units.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisite courses, although it is recommended that this not be your first course in philosophy.

Textbook: Contemporary Analytic and Linguistic Philosophies, Second Edition, edited by E. D. Klemke, Prometheus Books, 2000. There will be a few additional articles handed out in class throughout the semester, but the plan is to read this book more or less in order. Nearly all the reading this semester will be of primary articles written by influential philosophers. The reading will not be secondary literature explaining or summarizing this primary literature, but it's recommended that you find some of this for yourself. Some of the required reading in our course is available only on the Internet.

Grades: Three homework assignments (16% each), an essay (26%), and a final exam (26%). The essay will be a seven-page argumentative essay, typed double-spaced. Depth of philosophical insight and quality of argumentation are the paramount factors in the grades on the essay and on the homeworks, but English writing skill is also a significant factor. The comprehensive final exam is open book and open notes.

Homework 1 handed out Sept. 16

Homework 1 due Sept. 23

Homework 2 handed out Oct. 16

Homework 2 due Oct. 23

Homework 3 handed out Nov. 13

Homework 3 due Nov. 20

Essay due Dec. 9

Final exam Dec. 16 8:00am

Class attendance: Class attendance is optional, but you are responsible for material covered in class that isn't in the readings.

Dowden

Professor: My office is in Mendocino Hall, room 3022, and my weekly office hours will be announced in class on the first day. Feel free to stop by at any of those times, or to call. If those hours are inconvenient for you, then I can arrange an appointment for an alternative time. You may send me e-mail at dowden@csus.edu or call my office at 278-7384 or the Philosophy Department Office at 278-6424. The fastest way to contact me is by email. My personal web page is at http://www.csus.edu/indiv/d/dowdenb/index.htm

Student outcome goals: The hope is that by the end of the semester you will have achieved the following goals:

acquired an overview of the problems and positions taken by the major philosophers and philosophical movements in 20^th century English and American analytic philosophy.

developed your skill to do philosophical analysis in the analytic style on the topics that were of interest to analytic philosophers in the 20th century.

be able to tell which of three passages are written in the style of analytic philosophy and be able to say why you were able to tell.

improved your skill at writing a persuasive essay.

Late assignments, and make-up assignments: I realize that during your college career you occasionally may be unable to complete an assignment on time. If this happens in our course, contact me as soon as you are able. If you provide me with a good reason for missing a test or homework assignment (illness, accident, etc.), then I'll use your grade on the final exam as your missing grade. There will be no make-up tests nor make-up homework. I do accept late homework with a grade penalty of one-third of a letter grade per 24-hour period beginning at the class time the assignment is due. Examples. If you turn in the assignment a few hours after it is due, then your A becomes an A-. Instead, if you turn in the same assignment 30 hours late, then your A becomes a B+. Weekends count, so turn in your late work by email if possible (no need to follow up with a paper copy). No late work will be accepted after the answer sheet has been handed out (often this will be at the next class meeting) nor after the answers are discussed in class, even if you weren't in class that day.

Add-Drop: To add the course, try to do so by using the CMS system. If the course is full, then see me about signing up on the waiting list. When there is room, students on the waiting list will be added in this order: seniors graduating this semester, then all others by random selection. To drop the course during the first two weeks, use the CMS system. No paperwork is required. After the first two weeks, it is harder to drop, and a departmental form is required, the "Petition to Add/Drop After Deadline." As with any university course, make sure you are dropped officially (by CMS or by the instructor or department secretary); don't simply walk away into the ozone or else you will get a "U" grade for the course, which is counted as an "F" in computing your GPA (grade point average).

Laptops and cell phones: No photographing, recording or text messaging during class is allowed without permission of the instructor.

Disabilities: If you have a documented disability and require accommodation or assistance with assignments, tests, attendance, note taking, etc., please see me early in the semester so that appropriate arrangements can be made to ensure your full participation in class. Also, you are encouraged to contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (Lassen Hall) for additional information regarding services that might be available to you.

Plagiarism: A student tutorial on how not to plagiarize is available online from our library at http://library.csus.edu/content2.asp?pageID=357

Food: Please don't eat and drink (except water) during class. You're welcome to leave class anytime if the need arises.

Course Description: Our course will survey the major movements of 20th century English and American analytic philosophy. In that century, analytic philosophy became the dominant way that philosophy was done in English-speaking countries, and it remains the dominant style today. You are probably already familiar with that style of philosophy even if you weren't told that it is called "analytic." Depending on which instructors you've had in your other courses, it's very possible that you've never seen any 20th century philosophy that wasn't analytic. Analytic philosophy was born out of revolt against what the analytic philosophers considered to be the harmful influence of the 19th century philosophers Hegel and Nietzsche and their opaque, bizarre, vague, and speculative methods of doing philosophy. The revolutionaries turned toward common sense, science, language, logic, and rigor. Their methods of analysis--their methods of doing philosophy--emphasize clarity, terseness, wealth of argument, respect for the findings of empirical science, an honest commitment to the pursuit of truth, and attention to detail. The methods and aims of analytic philosophy give a higher priority to logical and epistemological analysis than is given by these opposing camps of philosophers: the absolute idealists, Marxists, existentialists, phenomenologists, neo-Thomists, and sages of Asian philosophy. This methodological turn began with the English attempt to refute metaphysical idealism, which is the belief that reality is basically spiritual or mental.

We will begin our course by briefly examining the influence of absolute idealism, which is the English legacy of Hegel's post-Kantian German idealism. Then we will investigate the revolt against absolute idealism which began with Moore's arguments from common sense and Russell's and Wittgenstein's metaphysics of logical atomism. Both of these analytic philosophy movements would have been somewhat attractive to the earlier British empiricists Locke, Berkeley and Hume, and they would have considered absolute idealism to be relatively odd. We will turn next to the logical positivist assault on ethics, metaphysics, theology and aesthetics. This movement is followed by the later Wittgenstein's revolutionary way of doing philosophy by conceptual analysis [in order to let the philosophical fly out of the fly-bottle, so to speak]; by ordinary language philosophy; and by more recent analytical philosophy.

Pragmatism is considered a pre-analytic tradition and so will receive only minor attention in our course, although America's most famous 20th century analytic philosopher, W.V.O. Quine, was a pragmatist.

We will pay attention not only to finding out what the Anglo-American philosophers said about their favorite issues but also to how those issues should be settled.

Our course does not take the following attitude toward past philosophy: "The past was a mess; let's mine it for some laughs."

A final thought from Albert Einstein in 1934: "Bear in mind that the wonderful things you learn in your schools are the work of many generations, produced by enthusiastic effort and infinite labor in every country of the world. All this is put into your hands as your inheritance in order that you may receive it, honor it, add to it, and one day faithfully hand it on to your children."

First week's reading assignment: Browse the brief introductory articles "The Rise of Analytic Philosophy," "The Pre-Analytic Enemy: Idealism," and "Analytic and Linguistic Philosophies" in the introduction of the Klemke textbook. Because these provide an abbreviated summary of the whole book, you are not expected to understand some of the specific points in the intro until the end of the semester. Then read "Reality and Idealism" by Josiah Royce from his The Spirit of Modern Philosophy (1892), also in Klemke. On the first page of the Royce article, he says "There is nothing in the universe absolutely sure except the Infinite." Find this remark; figure out what it means, why he believes it, and whether you believe it.

Weekly list of topics and assignments: See the list.

Contact me at dowden@csus.edu if you would like more information about the course.

PROF. DOWDEN / PHILOSOPHY DEPT.
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS / CSUS

The web address of this file is
http://www.csus.edu/indiv/d/dowdenb/176/f08/176-syl-f08.htm
updated: 8/28/08

Phil. 176
20th Century Anglo-American Philosophy Philosophy 176 Fall Semester 2008 Prof. Dowden


	Catalog description: The rise of the analytic tradition in contemporary Anglo-American philosophy represents a turn toward common sense, science, language, logic and rigor. Readings will cover the philosophical movements of common sense, logical atomism, logical positivism, ordinary language philosophy and more recent analytical philosophy. 3 units. Prerequisites: There are no prerequisite courses, although it is recommended that this not be your first course in philosophy. Textbook: Contemporary Analytic and Linguistic Philosophies, Second Edition, edited by E. D. Klemke, Prometheus Books, 2000. There will be a few additional articles handed out in class throughout the semester, but the plan is to read this book more or less in order. Nearly all the reading this semester will be of primary articles written by influential philosophers. The reading will not be secondary literature explaining or summarizing this primary literature, but it's recommended that you find some of this for yourself. Some of the required reading in our course is available only on the Internet. Grades: Three homework assignments (16% each), an essay (26%), and a final exam (26%). The essay will be a seven-page argumentative essay, typed double-spaced. Depth of philosophical insight and quality of argumentation are the paramount factors in the grades on the essay and on the homeworks, but English writing skill is also a significant factor. The comprehensive final exam is open book and open notes. Homework 1 handed out Sept. 16 Homework 1 due Sept. 23 Homework 2 handed out Oct. 16 Homework 2 due Oct. 23 Homework 3 handed out Nov. 13 Homework 3 due Nov. 20 Essay due Dec. 9 Final exam Dec. 16 8:00am Class attendance: Class attendance is optional, but you are responsible for material covered in class that isn't in the readings. Dowden Professor: My office is in Mendocino Hall, room 3022, and my weekly office hours will be announced in class on the first day. Feel free to stop by at any of those times, or to call. If those hours are inconvenient for you, then I can arrange an appointment for an alternative time. You may send me e-mail at dowden@csus.edu or call my office at 278-7384 or the Philosophy Department Office at 278-6424. The fastest way to contact me is by email. My personal web page is at http://www.csus.edu/indiv/d/dowdenb/index.htm Student outcome goals: The hope is that by the end of the semester you will have achieved the following goals: acquired an overview of the problems and positions taken by the major philosophers and philosophical movements in 20^th century English and American analytic philosophy. developed your skill to do philosophical analysis in the analytic style on the topics that were of interest to analytic philosophers in the 20th century. be able to tell which of three passages are written in the style of analytic philosophy and be able to say why you were able to tell. improved your skill at writing a persuasive essay. Late assignments, and make-up assignments: I realize that during your college career you occasionally may be unable to complete an assignment on time. If this happens in our course, contact me as soon as you are able. If you provide me with a good reason for missing a test or homework assignment (illness, accident, etc.), then I'll use your grade on the final exam as your missing grade. There will be no make-up tests nor make-up homework. I do accept late homework with a grade penalty of one-third of a letter grade per 24-hour period beginning at the class time the assignment is due. Examples. If you turn in the assignment a few hours after it is due, then your A becomes an A-. Instead, if you turn in the same assignment 30 hours late, then your A becomes a B+. Weekends count, so turn in your late work by email if possible (no need to follow up with a paper copy). No late work will be accepted after the answer sheet has been handed out (often this will be at the next class meeting) nor after the answers are discussed in class, even if you weren't in class that day. Add-Drop: To add the course, try to do so by using the CMS system. If the course is full, then see me about signing up on the waiting list. When there is room, students on the waiting list will be added in this order: seniors graduating this semester, then all others by random selection. To drop the course during the first two weeks, use the CMS system. No paperwork is required. After the first two weeks, it is harder to drop, and a departmental form is required, the "Petition to Add/Drop After Deadline." As with any university course, make sure you are dropped officially (by CMS or by the instructor or department secretary); don't simply walk away into the ozone or else you will get a "U" grade for the course, which is counted as an "F" in computing your GPA (grade point average). Laptops and cell phones: No photographing, recording or text messaging during class is allowed without permission of the instructor. Disabilities: If you have a documented disability and require accommodation or assistance with assignments, tests, attendance, note taking, etc., please see me early in the semester so that appropriate arrangements can be made to ensure your full participation in class. Also, you are encouraged to contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (Lassen Hall) for additional information regarding services that might be available to you. Plagiarism: A student tutorial on how not to plagiarize is available online from our library at http://library.csus.edu/content2.asp?pageID=357 Food: Please don't eat and drink (except water) during class. You're welcome to leave class anytime if the need arises. Course Description: Our course will survey the major movements of 20th century English and American analytic philosophy. In that century, analytic philosophy became the dominant way that philosophy was done in English-speaking countries, and it remains the dominant style today. You are probably already familiar with that style of philosophy even if you weren't told that it is called "analytic." Depending on which instructors you've had in your other courses, it's very possible that you've never seen any 20th century philosophy that wasn't analytic. Analytic philosophy was born out of revolt against what the analytic philosophers considered to be the harmful influence of the 19th century philosophers Hegel and Nietzsche and their opaque, bizarre, vague, and speculative methods of doing philosophy. The revolutionaries turned toward common sense, science, language, logic, and rigor. Their methods of analysis--their methods of doing philosophy--emphasize clarity, terseness, wealth of argument, respect for the findings of empirical science, an honest commitment to the pursuit of truth, and attention to detail. The methods and aims of analytic philosophy give a higher priority to logical and epistemological analysis than is given by these opposing camps of philosophers: the absolute idealists, Marxists, existentialists, phenomenologists, neo-Thomists, and sages of Asian philosophy. This methodological turn began with the English attempt to refute metaphysical idealism, which is the belief that reality is basically spiritual or mental. We will begin our course by briefly examining the influence of absolute idealism, which is the English legacy of Hegel's post-Kantian German idealism. Then we will investigate the revolt against absolute idealism which began with Moore's arguments from common sense and Russell's and Wittgenstein's metaphysics of logical atomism. Both of these analytic philosophy movements would have been somewhat attractive to the earlier British empiricists Locke, Berkeley and Hume, and they would have considered absolute idealism to be relatively odd. We will turn next to the logical positivist assault on ethics, metaphysics, theology and aesthetics. This movement is followed by the later Wittgenstein's revolutionary way of doing philosophy by conceptual analysis [in order to let the philosophical fly out of the fly-bottle, so to speak]; by ordinary language philosophy; and by more recent analytical philosophy. Pragmatism is considered a pre-analytic tradition and so will receive only minor attention in our course, although America's most famous 20th century analytic philosopher, W.V.O. Quine, was a pragmatist. We will pay attention not only to finding out what the Anglo-American philosophers said about their favorite issues but also to how those issues should be settled. Our course does not take the following attitude toward past philosophy: "The past was a mess; let's mine it for some laughs." A final thought from Albert Einstein in 1934: "Bear in mind that the wonderful things you learn in your schools are the work of many generations, produced by enthusiastic effort and infinite labor in every country of the world. All this is put into your hands as your inheritance in order that you may receive it, honor it, add to it, and one day faithfully hand it on to your children." First week's reading assignment: Browse the brief introductory articles "The Rise of Analytic Philosophy," "The Pre-Analytic Enemy: Idealism," and "Analytic and Linguistic Philosophies" in the introduction of the Klemke textbook. Because these provide an abbreviated summary of the whole book, you are not expected to understand some of the specific points in the intro until the end of the semester. Then read "Reality and Idealism" by Josiah Royce from his The Spirit of Modern Philosophy (1892), also in Klemke. On the first page of the Royce article, he says "There is nothing in the universe absolutely sure except the Infinite." Find this remark; figure out what it means, why he believes it, and whether you believe it. Weekly list of topics and assignments: See the list. Contact me at dowden@csus.edu if you would like more information about the course. PROF. DOWDEN / PHILOSOPHY DEPT. COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS / CSUS The web address of this file is http://www.csus.edu/indiv/d/dowdenb/176/f08/176-syl-f08.htm updated: 8/28/08