PHL 309 - Logic, Language, and Thought

2017-2018 Catalog Year:

This class explores the limits of reason, and what these limits mean for a range of human endeavors. The class brings together material from the philosophy of logic, the philosophy of language, and the philosophy of mind, focusing upon the historical quest to formally understand the nature of reason. To achieve this goal, the class explores: the dream of a logically perfect language, the nature of infinity, paradoxes, the limits of computation, and difference between determinism and predictability. Once some of the limits of reason have been identified and clarified, students explore a range of practical problems where such limits may have significant real-world implications. The course should be of interest to majors in philosophy, psychology, cognitive science, or to anyone curious about the nature and limits of knowledge.

Prerequisite: PHL 111 OR MAT 215 OR CSC 221 OR CSC 212 OR COG 166 and upper division standing, or instructor permission.
Offered: Spring
Credit: 3