PHIL 309: Twentieth Century Analytic Philosophy

LARKIN: Spring 2003

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Take Home Midterm Essay Exam

 

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.

 

 

Suggested Essay Outline

 

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).