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This course surveys a wide range of paradoxes and bizarre brain-twisters drawn from all corners of philosophy.
An example of a paradox is an argument with apparently acceptable premises, apparently acceptable rules of inference, and yet an apparently unacceptable conclusion. Other examples of paradoxes in-clude statements like ‘This very statement is false’, and ‘The set of all sets which are not members of themselves is both a member of itself and not a member of itself’. This course surveys a wide range of paradoxes drawn from all corners of philosophy. Does a barber who shaves all those and only those who do not shave themselves shave himself? Is someone speaking truly, falsely, or both, in uttering ‘What I am now saying is a lie’? Can we use logic to solve moral dilemmas without producing further, deeper, dilemmas? Students will analyse and evaluate these and other paradoxes, and will use the ana-lytical skills they acquired to develop creative solutions.
Students will acquire the following knowledge and skills: 1. Knowledge of a number of fundamental logical puzzles and paradoxes2. Knowledge of efforts by the international intellectual community to solve these3. Greater understanding of the central concepts of philosophy and logic 4. Enhanced analytic reasoning skills5. Enhanced ability to think critically, independently and creatively6. Enhanced ability to present ideas clearly to your peers in a structured format7. Enhanced ability to contribute relevantly and logically to group discussion8. Enhanced skill in using digital resources; and in using digital media such as short videos for reporting research
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:
Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award
Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.
Any 30 points at 200 level in PHIL, COSC, orMATH, orany 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA or BSc.
PHIL494, PHIL444
Students must attend one activity from each section.
Jack Copeland
Zhuo-Ran Deng
Email: zhuoran.deng@canterbury.ac.nz
Please check the course LEARN page for further details and updates.
Domestic fee $1,641.00
International fee $7,500.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Humanities .