Metaphysics

Module Code: PI4042

Module Name: Advanced Logic and Philosophy

• ECTS Weighting: 5
• Semester/Term Taught: Hilary Term
• Contact Hours: 22 hours of lecture
• Module Personnel: Lecturer – Professor Peter Simons

Module Content

The relationship between logic and philosophy has become complicated by the massive plurality of logical systems investigated since 1900. The question therefore arises as to whether there is such a thing as 'the correct logic', or whether we have to acquiesce in logical relativism. In this course we will examine alternatives to classical logic, in particular free logics, Lesniewskian logics, intuitionist logic, many–valued logics and relevance logics, and consider their various claims to be improvements on classical logic.

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module, students will be able to:

• give the principal distinguishing characteristics of alternative logics;
• critically assess their claims to be in some sense 'better' than classical logic or its extensions.