PHIL 266

Special Topic: Logic, Probability, Rationality

Please note: this is archived course information from 2012 for PHIL 266.

Description

This course considers formal methods, including, but not limited to, models and theories of probability, decision-making, scientific method, counterfactual reasoning, social choice and games. These models have often been employed within philosophy - for instance, decision and game theory have been applied to issues of social coordination in political philosophy and issues of rationality, while probability theory has been used to give an influential Bayesian account of scientific method. Applications of these models can also be found in metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of religion and ethics. Although its focus is the formal articulation of these models, the course will also discuss their relevance and applications to such philosophically important topics.

Availability 2012

Semester 1

Lecturer(s)

Coordinator(s) Dr Jeremy Seligman
Dr Koji Tanaka

Recommended Reading

Michael D. Resnik, Choices: An Introduction to Decision Theory, University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 1987.

Points

PHIL 266: 15 points

Prerequisites

PHIL 101