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PY4669   Modal Logic and Metaphysics

Academic year(s): 2023-2024

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 30

ECTS credits : 15

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: 2

Planned timetable: To be confirmed

Mastery of modal logic is vital for logicians, philosophers of language, metaphysicians, philosophers of mind, epistemologists: such notions as content, supervenience, reduction, causation, knowledge, belief, information, as well as metaphysical, nomic and temporal necessity, can all be studied in the framework of modal logic. The single feature allowing modal logic to perform such tasks, is its semantics, phrased in terms of possible worlds. Possible worlds semantics is a success story of philosophy, having been exported to computer science, linguistics, economics, game theory. This module introduces students both to advanced first-order modal logic (e.g., lambda-abstraction for predicates, rigid, non-rigid and non-denoting terms, partial semantics, formal theories of descriptions), and to the philosophical issues raised by possible worlds semantics, ranging from the metaphysical status of worlds to the meaningfulness of quantification over non-actual individuals.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Before taking this module you must pass PY2010

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: Students will attend 3 hours of classes (2 hours of lectures and 1 of seminars) per week.

Scheduled learning hours: 44

Guided independent study hours: 259

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: Coursework 100%

As defined by QAA
Coursework: 100%

Re-assessment: Coursework (resit of failed element(s), at appropriate weighting(s)).

Personnel

Module coordinator: Professor F Berto
Module teaching staff: Prof Franz Berto
Module coordinator email fb96@st-andrews.ac.uk

Intended learning outcomes

  • Use advanced techniques from first-order modal logic.
  • Understand and apply possible worlds semantics.
  • Use their wide-ranging expertise in modal metaphysics.
  • Understand alternatives to standard modal logic, ranging from dynamic epistemic logic to relevance logic.
  • Produce papers of suitable quality in logic and metaphysics.