Corso di laurea magistrale in Filosofia

Familiarity with first-order logic (in particular, logical consequence relation and derivability).

This course focuses on formal theories of truth and paradoxes. The aim of the course is to enable all students to think rigorously about the fundamental features of the notion of truth and semantic paradoxes, and to present their own views clearly and systematically.

The aim of the course is in line with the overall learning objectives of the MA program in Philosophy and the Philosophy International Curriculum to train the students' argumentative skills and their power of philosophical and logical analysis and to make them acquainted with a variety of philosophical disciplines.

By the end of this course, students are expected to be able to: (i) show a clear understanding of the contemporary debate in theories of truth, in both their formal and philosophical aspects;

(ii) articulate the relative merits and defects of the main theories of truth and paradox, across a wide range of logical frameworks (knowledge and understanding);

(iii) develop in a sustained manner their own criticisms of some of these ideas and arguments, and initiate original lines of thought (applying knowledge and understanding; making judgments);

(iv) show a deep understanding of the connections between theories of truth and other areas of philosophy (notably logic, the philosophy of mathematics, and the philosophy of language)(knowledge and understanding);

(v) have deepened their ability to make complex ideas understandable in both speaking and writing(communication skills). 

Part 1: Background on formal truth and semantic paradoxes.

Part 2: What is a solution to the semantic paradoxes? Adequacy requirements. 

Part 3: Classical theories of truth and paradox

Part 4: Non-classical theories of truth and paradox

Part 5: Revenge paradoxes

Part 6: An unorthodox approach to semantic paradoxes

Frontal instruction.

Active participation is required for passing the course.

The exam will consist of an oral interview, where students will present an argument discussed during the course. Students will have to prepare a detailed written outline of the argumentative structure of their presentation. Instructions about preparing such an outline will be given during the course and will be available on Moodle. During the interview, the lecturers will ask questions to test the student's knowledge of the study material and to evaluate their ability to develop cogent arguments. 

The final grade will be given on a 30-points scale.

Students with special needs should contact the teacher at the beginning of the course.

Non-attending students are kindly requested to consult the instructions available on the Moodle website

Students with special needs (disabilities, learning difficulties) should consult the following web pages: support for students with special needs (https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-con-disabilitaopen_in_newopen_in_newopen_in_new), more on that (https://www.unito.it/accoglienza-studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsaopen_in_newopen_in_newopen_in_new); information about the exam procedures (https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-e-studentesse-con-disabilita/supporto-studenti-e-studentesse-con).open_in_newopen_in_newopen_in_new

Julien Murzi and Lorenzo Rossi (monograph under contract with OUP), Truth and Paradox in Context. 5 Chapters of the book will constitute the main part of the course's program.They will be made available to registered students before the course starts. 

The first two Chapters of Kit Fine's book listed above are required reading for part 6 of the course.

A syllabus with a more detailed course schedule and the course bibliography will be made available to registered students some weeks before the course starts.

The course will last 36 hours.

Students are kindly invited to enroll on Campusnet.

Students are kindly requested to consult the instructions available on the Moodle website