Admission requirements
Students in the BA programme Philosophy: first year BA has been successfully completed, as well as the second-year course Philosophy of Science (Wetenschapsfilosofie).
Prerequisites for students from other departments (including contractstudenten): first year BA has been successfully completed as well as the BA courses Logic, Metaphysics, Epistemology and Philosophy of Science, or equivalent courses offered by another university.
This course has a limited number of places available for students from other departments.
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 Tratctatus 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
See Collegeroosters Wijsbegeerte 2014-2015, BA Wijsbegeerte (BA Plus-traject or Standaardtraject), derde jaar.
See Timetables Philosophy 2014-2015 , Timetable Undergraduate Courses in English
Mode of instruction
- Lectures and seminars
Class attendance is required.
Course Load
Total course load (10 EC): 280 hours
Attending classes (14 × 3 hours): 42 hours
Studying of texts (14 × 7 hours): 98 hours
Solving/preparing assignments (14 × 5 hours): 70 hours
Fomulation 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
Active engagement with weekly assignments and the presentation is a mandatory requirement for being admitted to the exam (final paper).
One resit will be offered, consisting of the final paper. Any student who did not take the first examination cannot take the resit.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used as a message board for assigments and the posting of texts and references.
Reading list
To be announced.
Registration
Please register for this course on uSis.
See Inschrijven voor cursussen en tentamens
See Registration for courses and examinations
Students are strongly advised to register in uSis through the activity number which can be found in the collegerooster in the column under the heading “Act.nr”.
Exchange students and Study Abroad students, please see the Study in Leiden website for information on how to apply.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Registration Contractonderwijs
Registration Studeren à la carte: not applicable
Contact
Remarks
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