University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 20

ECTS credits : 10

Level : SCQF level 11

Semester: 2

Planned timetable: To be confirmed.

This course provides a systematic introduction to the philosophy of David Lewis, one of the most important analytic philosophers of the second half of the twentieth century. Lewis is distinctive among analytic philosophers for having contributed to so many different areas of analytic philosophy, and for having done so systematically. This course begins by addressing the foundational elements of Lewis's metaphysics—his doctrine of "Humean Supervenience" and his metaphysics of modality—along with the method of definition, Ramsification, that Lewis repeatedly deploys in his theorising. With this foundation, it then aims to provide an overview of the central topics that Lewis addresses within metaphysics, the philosophy of language, and the philosophy of mind. Topics may include content, the attitudes, counterfactuals, causation, truth, convention, the conversational scoreboard, knowledge, and objective chance.

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 1 seminar (X11 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours: 22

Guided independent study hours: 275

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 100% Coursework


Re-assessment: 100% Coursework

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr J Z D'Ambrosio
Module teaching staff: Dr Justin D'Ambrosio
Module coordinator email jzd1@st-andrews.ac.uk

Intended learning outcomes

• By the end of the module, students will be able to outline David Lewis's basic philosophical commitments and understand the methodology he employs to arrive at them.
• By the end of the module, students will be able to grasp the significance of the doctrine of Humean supervenience, a view about the fundamental nature of reality, and how everyday objects relate to it.
• By the end of the module, students will be able to intelligently discuss Lewis's views on the metaphysics of modality, especially his controversial doctrine of modal realism.
• By the end of the module, students will be able to consider, in an informed way, the various alternative views to Lewis's own on several crucial topics in metaphysics, including laws of nature, causation, and fundamentality, among others.
• By the end of the module, students will be able to write competently and meaningfully concerning topics such as the semantics of counterfactuals, the nature of truth, the method of Ramsification, the nature of knowledge, convention, and the conversational scoreboard.