FIL4405 – Philosophical Logic and the Philosophy of Mathematics

The contents of the course may vary from year to year but will be based on: (1) a further logical and philosophical study of classical propositional and predicate logic; (2) a logical and philosophical study of various extensions of, and alternatives to, classical logic; or (3) central questions in the philosophy of mathematics.

Examples of (1) include metatheory such as soundness and completeness proofs, the deduction theorem, etc.

Examples of (2) include Gödel`s incompleteness theorem, various systems of modal logic (for example, K, T, S4, S5), as well as systems of deontic logic, temporal logic, or doxastic logic. Further examples of specialization may be within identity theory, model theory, set theory, second-order logic, logical consequence, conditionals, counterfactuals, intuitionistic logic, relevance logic, and various logical paradoxes such as Russell`s Paradox, Liar Paradox, etc.

Examples of (3) include mathematical knowledge, mathematical objects, truth in mathematics, and the applicability of mathematics.

After passing the exam, you will have

• gained a deeper understanding of the nature of logic and/or mathematics
• acquired a thorough understanding of the central philosophical questions that arise in connection with one or both of these formal sciences, as well as an ability to think independently about how these questions are to be answered.

Having passed the exam in this unit will enable you to understand and orient yourself in the philosophical literature in this area.

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

Students enrolled in other Master`s Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Requires admission to the Master`s programme in philosophy.

12 double sessions of combined seminars and lectures. Active participation is expected.The teaching takes place together with bachelor students following FIL2405. The course has the following compulsory activities:

• you must submit a question concerning the readings assigned for the relevant week at least 9 out of the 12 weeks
• you must submit a draft of the examination essay
• you are required to make an in-class presentation

In order for you to qualify for the final examination, all compulsory activities must be approved (accepted as satisfactory) by the teacher. The activities are only valid for one semester (the same semester you attend the course).

This is how you apply for valid absence from the seminar / postponement of obligatory activities.

The exam has two parts; An essay of approximately 5 pages (one page should contain approximately 2300 characters), excl literature list, and a 2 hour school exam. The essay is weighted 40% towards the final grade while the school exam is weighted 60%.

In order for you to qualify for the final examination, all compulsory activities must be approved by the teacher.