Admission requirements
Admission to one of the following programmes is required:
MA Philosophy 60 EC: specialisation History and Philosophy of the Sciences
MA Philosophy 120 EC: specialisation Philosophy of Natural sciences, or Philosophy of Psychology
Description
Wittgenstein’s Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus is one of the most influential philosophical works in the 20th century. Its overall structure and general doctrine are relatively easy to grasp, but its details can be frustratingly difficult. The course aims at a thorough, and reasonably close reading of the work, tracing its background in the great works of Frege and the writings of Bertrand Russell, as well as in Schopenhauer, Tolstoy and Hertz. Readings, and sometimes other assignments are given each week.
Course objectives
Students who successfully complete the course will have a good understanding of :
- the main tenets of the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, and its background in the works of Frege and Russell.
Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
elucidate the main logical doctrines of the Tractatus and relate them to issues in metaphysics and epistemology
present their ideas orally (in a class presentation and discussion) and in writing (in an essay).
Timetable
The timetable is available on the MA Philosophy website
MA Philosophy 60 EC, or MA Philosophy 120 EC
Mode of instruction
- Lectures and seminars
Class attendance is required.
Course Load
Total course load 10 EC x 28 hours = 280 hours
Attending classes (14 × 3 hours): 42 hours
Study of texts (14 × 7 hours): 98 hours
Solving/preparing assignments (14 × 5 hours): 70 hours
Formulation of topic and search for literature etc: 30 hours
Writing final paper: 40 hours
Assessment method
Active engagement with weekly assignments
Presentation of some sections of the TLP
Final paper on some aspect of the TLP or its relation to other parts of philosophy (100%)
Weighing
Active engagement with weekly assignments and the presentation is a mandatory requirement for being admitted to the exam / final paper (100% of the final grade) or the resit.
Resit
One resit will be offered, consisting of the final paper. No separate resits will be offered for mid-term tests (presentation, assignments). The mark will replace all previously earned marks. Students who have obtained a satisfactory grade for the first examination(s) cannot take the resit.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used:
as a message board for assignments
for the posting of texts and references.
Reading list
- Required readings will be made available through Blackboard.
Registration
Enrolment for courses and exams through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch
Students are strongly advised to register in uSis through the activity number which can be found in the timetables for and exams in the column under the heading “uSis-Actnbr”.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact
Remarks
Not applicable.