Learning objectives
The course aims to introduce students to the contemporary discussion of concepts of modality and to give them the ability to read autonomously specialist literature on the subject. <br />
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Prerequisites
Only students who have obtained ten credits in Philosophy of Language or in Theories of Language and Mind will be admitted. <br />
The other students are invited to attend the A and B modules of the Philosophy of Language three year degree course. <br />
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Course unit content
Course title: Modality and possible worlds. <br />
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The course will be run in collaboration with the Theory of Language course given by Prof. Andrea Bianchi, and it will explore one of the themes at the centre of twentieth century thinking: modality. We are all led to believe, for example, that we could have behaved differently but that we could not have been plants. But what is the meaning of a statement such as ‘A could have been P’? What is the necessity and the possibility? Some of the main answers to these questions, which were offered last century, will be examined in detail. In particular, the reasons which led to a revival of Leibniz’s possible world, in this context, will be examined. The question will be asked: is the analysis of modality in terms of possible worlds, which is so common today, really satisfying? If yes, what is a possible world? If not, how should modality be accounted for? <br />
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Full programme
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Bibliography
R.Carnap, Meaning and Necessity, University of Chicago Press, 1956 <br />
S.Kripke, Nome e necessità, Boringhieri, 1982 <br />
J.Melia, Modality, McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2003 <br />
S.Soames, Philosophical Analysis in the Twentieth Century, Princeton University Press, 2003 <br />
Teaching methods
The course will be conducted in seminar form. Students are requested to actively participate. Each student will be required to prepare a written paper which will be discussed with the lecturers during the exam. <br />
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Other information
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