Universität Wien

180118 PS Ontology and Metaphysics (2017S)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 45 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 07.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Tuesday 14.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Tuesday 21.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Tuesday 28.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Tuesday 04.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Tuesday 25.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Tuesday 02.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Tuesday 09.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Tuesday 16.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Tuesday 23.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Tuesday 30.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Tuesday 13.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Tuesday 20.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Tuesday 27.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course will provide an introduction to current philosophical debates in Metaphysics and Ontology. The first half of the course will concentrate on the fundamentally important and groundbreaking work of Saul Kripke – we will read through and critically examine his celebrated work 'Naming and Necessity'. In the second half of the course we will look at a number of 'classic' topics in Metaphysics and Ontology and we will finish by considering recent debates about the status of metaphysics itself as a discipline.
Classes will be in Seminar Format and so students should expect and be prepared for extensive class discussions. Each class one or more students will give a short presentation on the reading to start discussion off.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS COURSE WILL BE CONDUCTED ENTIRELY IN ENGLISH!

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular attendance and punctuality are expected for this course. The content presented in each class will build on what has already been presented in previous classes. So if you miss substantive parts of any lecture you will find it hard to follow the rest of the lecture and in subsequent classes. Thus it is really important that everyone arrives on time. Delays longer than 15 minutes will count as absences.

The course consists of 13 sessions. At most 2 absences are allowed. Attendances will be recorded at each session. For any further absences, you will have to provide a written justification and evidence (e.g. signed letter from a doctor). Please let me know as soon as you can if there are any special circumstances that prevent your attendance of more than 2 lectures.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

This course will be assessed primarily on the basis of a shorter mid-term essay and a final longer essay. These written exercises will together account for 80% of your overall mark.
Course assessment will also take into account participation in class, which will account for 20% of your overall mark. This includes not only active participation in class activities – e.g. having read the required reading for each class, asking appropriate questions, answering questions posed to the class, etc. – but also punctuality and respectful behaviour towards the instructor and fellow students.

Examination topics

Reading list

In the first half of this course we will be closely reading:
Kripke, Saul "NAMING & NECESSITY" (Blackwell, 1981)
(This book is very widely available).

In the second half of the course we will be reading contemporary papers in Metaphysics and Ontology – these readings will be available on the Moodle site for the course.

Association in the course directory

BA M 5.1
PP § 57.3.2

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:36