PPR307: History of Twentieth Century Philosophy

Tutor: Neil Manson
Term: Lent

Course Description

This module provides an introduction to some of the major philosophical thinkers and issues of the last century. The focus will be primarily on the central developments in the analytic tradition but may also offer examination of some of the key movements in continental thought.

The course will generally include some or most of the following themes. Particular focus on certain topics is likely to differ from year to year in which the course is available:

• British idealism: the philosophy of Bradley and Collingwood
• Husserl and the phenomenological tradition
• Sartre and existentialism
• Frege: the revolution in logic and language
• Russell and the early Wittgenstein
• Logical positivism: Ayer, Carnap, the Vienna Circle
• The later thought of Wittgenstein
• The development of linguistic and conceptual analysis: Ryle, Quine, Austin, Strawson, Searle
• More recent developments in realism, relativism, pragmatism: Kripke, Putnam, Rorty, Derrida

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

• Expound and critically assess the arguments and positions in Twentieth Century philosophy introduced in this module.
• Set out some of the influential argumentation that has been developed in relation to the various issues and problems discussed in this module.
• Begin an independent evaluation of these problems and be in a position to make some progress towards developing authoritative views of their own.

Assessment

40% coursework and 60% exam.
Coursework: 1 essays of 3000 words. Exam: 2 hours.

Teaching Method

Lecture (1.5 hours) and seminar (1 hour) weekly.

Introductory Reading

T. Baldwin                      Contemporary Philosophy: Philosophy in English since 1945
Jones, W T & Fogelin, R The Twentieth Century to Quine and Derrida
R. Kirk                             Relativism and Reality
Klemke, E D (ed)            Contemporary Analytic and Linguistic Philosophies
R. Rorty                          Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature
Routledge                      History of Philosophy vols. 9-10.

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