PHIL 309: Twentieth
Century Analytic Philosophy
LARKIN: Spring 2003
____________________________________
In a 4-6 pp
cohesive essay (typed, double-spaced, 10-12 pt. font) explain Frege’s
distinction between sense and reference, Russell’s theory of descriptions, and
how each would resolve either the problem
of true negative existentials or the Scott/author of Waverly puzzle. Which resolution do you prefer?
Explain and justify your answer.
I.
Introduction
[Give brief (1 sentence) statement/summary of
Frege’s sense/reference distinction and Russell’s theory of descriptions. Make known which puzzle you will deal with
and which solution you are going to defend.]
II.
Frege’s
Distinction
A.
Frege’s
Puzzle
B.
Rejected
Solutions
C.
Sense/Reference
Solution
III.
Russell’s
Theory of Descriptions
A.
Denoting
Phrases
B.
Main
Point of Russell’s Theory
C.
Russell’s
Theory of Definite Descriptions
IV.
Semantic
Puzzle
A.
Statement
of the Puzzle
B.
Frege’s
Solution
C.
Russell’s
Solution
V.
Your
View
A.
Problems
with Frege’s Solution
B.
Problems
with Russell’s Solution
C.
Defend
your view by doing one of the following:
1.
Respond
to problems with Russellian view
2.
Respond
to problems with Fregean view
3.
Sketch
an alternative view and how it does not suffer from the problems of either the
Russellian or the Fregean view.
Essays
are due on or before Friday, March 7th.
Please
place your essay in my mailbox (2200 wing of Peck Hall), slide it under my
office door (PH 2207), or attach it as an MS Word file to an e-mail (wlarkin@siue.edu).