Logic
and Natural Language: Philosophical Issues in Quantified Modal Logic
Fall 2007
Professor Jason Stanley
Thursday 1:10-4:10
This is a 500 level course. At Rutgers, 500 level courses are intended
to be introductions to a subject area, rather than research seminars.
This course is an introduction to modal metaphysics. We begin with a
review of the semantics propositional modal logic and quantificational
modal logic (for those with less background, there will be weekly
meetings on Monday in the graduate lounge for the first 6 weeks of the
seminar). We then turn to some classic papers in modal metaphysics, and
end with some more recent literature.
Syllabus
handout 1
Brief review of propositional modal logic
handout 2
Review of propositional modal logic continued; begin review of
quantified modal logic
handout 3
Quantified modal logic; free logic
handout 4
Plantinga on actualism
handout 5
Adams on actualism and essences
handout 6
Plantinga on existentialism
handout 7
Problems with actualism
handout 8
Williamson on necessary existence
handout 9
Bennett on actualism