PHL 440 P1

Course Content

In this course, we will examine the question of whether any sentence (or its propositional content) can be (or must be) regarded as necessary, and, if so, what kind of necessity is involved. We will look at this from a variety of perspectives, including a historical one, although we will focus on contemporary analytic philosophers' accounts, as well as the related but distinct approach of Jürgen Habermas.

Students will be allowed to pursue their own specific (relevant) interests in this course, and will present some of those results to the seminar. They will also be expected to write a polished, formal version of that presentation in a seminar paper.

Format

Some lecture; for the most part, discussion over the assigned reading, as well as student presentations toward the end of the semester.

Grading Scheme

Participation 25%

Presentation 35%

Seminar Paper 40%

Texts

Boghossian and Peacocke (eds.) New Essays on the a Priori

Habermas, J. Truth and Justification