Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description



CODE PHI3006

 
TITLE Philosophy of Science: (a) Foundations of Mathematics (b) Protophyiscs (c) Foundations of the Cultural Sciences

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 6

 
DEPARTMENT Philosophy

 
DESCRIPTION Foundations of Mathematics

Objectives:
(i) Understanding the special nature of the objects of Arithmetic (the numbers) as 'abstract' objects;
(ii) Understanding that Arithmetic should not be introduced axiomatically but constructively.

Content:
Construction of the natural numbers and the rational numbers. The "axioms" of Peano.

Reading List:Lorenzen, P., Differential and Integral


Protophysics

Objectives:
Understanding the special nature of the predicators of Protophysics as 'ideal' predicates.

Content:
Illustration of the technique of ideation by means of the introduction of the term "plane" into the language of Geometry (the Protophysics of Space).

Reading List:
Lorenzen, P., Normative Logic and Ethics. Bibliographisches Institut, Mannheim.
An unpublished English translation (by V.Riolo) of: Rudiger Inhetveen, "Die Dinge des dritten Systems", in Kuno Lorenz (ed), Konstruktionen versus Positionen, 19, de Gruyter, Berlin.


Foundations of the Cultural Sciences

Objectives:
Understanding the process of rational deliberation; grounding of actions and objections.

Content:
A construction of the principles for the grounding of actions and objective-settings.

Reading List:
An unpublished English translation (by V. Riolo) of the second Chapter, written by Oswald Schwemmer, of Paul Lorenzen, Oswald Schwemmer, Konstruktive Logik, Ethik und Wissenschaftstheorie, 2nd ed., Mannheim 1975.

Pre-requisite:
PHI 2001, Logic

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (2 Hours) Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Vincent Riolo

 

 
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It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.


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