Numbering Code	G-LET01 75143 SJ34	Year/Term	2022 ・ Second semester
Number of Credits	2	Course Type	Seminar
Target Year		Target Student
Language	English	Day/Period	Mon.1
Instructor name	TAKASHI YAGISAWA (Part-time Lecturer)
Outline and Purpose of the Course	We continue our examination of higher-order metaphysics from the first semester. "What exists? Objects. What are objects? They are things we can refer to by names." This conception of what exists is deeply entrenched in our way of thinking about reality. It assumes a strong tie between existence and reference by name: "No existence without potential nominal reference." Higher-order metaphysics rejects this assumption. It allows for existence where no name or any other singular term is available. In particular, it allows for existence where only a predicate is available and where only a sentence is available. This has deep and exciting implications in many areas of philosophy. We will examine what higher-order metaphysics precisely is and what its implications are for philosophy.
Course Goals	We aim to obtain deep and accurate mastery of the contemporary analytic philosophical method by studying various connected topics in semantics of natural language. We strive to cultivate philosophical and linguistic abilities to enable us to engage in intellectual discussion of the highest degree of sophistication in English.
Schedule and Contents	(授業計画と内容) We will read the following article carefully and examine the implications of higher-order metaphysics for the debate on tropes vs. universals. Lukas Skiba, "Higher-order metaphysics and the tropes versus universals dispute", Philosophical Studies (2021) 178:2805–2827. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11098-020-01585-x We are scheduled to meet 15 times throughout the semester. In the meetings 1 - 7, we will go over the metaphysics of universals and tropes. In the meetings 8 - 14, we will read Skiba. The final meeting will be used for the "feedback" purposes to wrap things up.
Evaluation Methods and Policy	Participation in class discussion and a term paper.
Course Requirements	Ability to use English in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Study outside of Class (preparation and review)	Read the text, and be prepared to ask questions and express opinions during class discussion. Here are three useful links: James Pryor’s Guidelines on Reading and Writing Philosophy: http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/reading.html http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/writing.html Angela Mendelovici’s Sample Philosophy Paper: https://prezi.com/z4h1_fwilbxj/a-sample-philosophy-paper/
Textbooks	Textbooks/References	Lukas Skiba, "Higher-order metaphysics and the tropes versus universals dispute", Philosophical Studies (2021) 178:2805–2827. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11098-020-01585-x