Duration
45h SEM
Number of credits
| Master in philosophy, research focus | 10 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
All year long, with partial in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
[The present research work must be realized within a seminar different from the seminar which the student is already taking in the general program of the master]
The seminar is only organized on even years.
It aims at investigating epistemological issues related to scientific practice in either natural sciences or human sciences.
In 2024-2025, the topic of the seminar will be "Truth in science" :
Sep 23 : Introduction
Oct. 7-14 (2 sessions) : Tarskian theory of truth, Correspondence theory of trurh, Truthmakers
Oct. 21 : Coherence theory of truth
Nov. 4 : Pragmatist theory of truth
Nov. 18 : Truth in mathematics (with Yacin Hamami)
Nov. 25 - Dec. 2 (+ Dec. 9 ?) (2-3 sessions) : Truth and constructivism : Felicity conditions, veridiction and existence modes
Dec. 9 (?) - 16 : Oral presentations of students doing research work
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Students should be able to identify and clarify major epistemological issues
Students should be able to link epistemological investigation with specific scientific problems.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
First degree philosophical or scientific training.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Seminar is organized on Mondays from 3 to 6pm during the first term.
Each session is prepared by one or two students.
Students are requested to attend every sesion of the seminar. Active participation to the discussion makes part of what is assessed.
First session of the seminar should be held on Monday the 23rd of September from 3pm to 4:30pm. Then there will be two weeks for readings and the seminar will really start on October 2.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
face-to-face<br /><br /> face-to-face
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
Some references :
Armstrong, David M., 2002, "Truth and Truth-makers," in R. Schantz (ed.), What Is Truth?, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. Trad. fr. « Vérité et Vérifacteurs », in J.-M. Monnoyer (ed.) La structure du monde :objets, propriétés, états de choses, Vrin, 2004, 101-114.
Benacerraf, P, 1973, "Mathematical truth", Journal of Philosophy, 70 (19): 661-679. Trad. fr. « La vérité mathématique », in S. Gandon et I. Samdja, Philosophie des mathématiques. Ontologie, vérité, fondements, Paris, Vrin, 2013, 75-96.
Davidson D., 1986, "A coherence theory of truth and knowledge", in E. Lepore (ed.), Truth and interpretation, Blackwell, 1989, 307-319. Trad. fr. « Une théorie cohérentiste de la vérité et de la connaissance », in B. Ambroise et S. Laugier (eds.) Philosophie du langage. Signification, vérité, réalité, Paris, Vrin, 2009, 309-337.
Field, H., 1972, "Tarski's theory of truth", Journal of Philosophy, 69: 347-375. Trad. fr. « La théorie de la vérité de Tarski », in D. Bonnay et M. Cozic (eds.), Philosophie de la logique. Conséquence, preuve et vérité, Paris, Vrin, 2009, 287-328.
Horwich, P., 1999, « Une critique de la théorie des vérifacteurs », in J.-M. Monnoyer (ed.) La structure du monde : objets, propriétés, états de choses, Vrin, 2004, 115-127.
James, W., 1907, "Pragmatism's conception of truth", The Journal of Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Methods, 4 (6) : 141-155. Trad. fr. « Conception pragmatiste de la vérité », leçon 6 de Le pragmatisme, Paris, Flammarion, 2007, 223-253.
Kripke, S., 1975, "Outline of a theory of truth", Journal of Philosophy, 72:690-716. Trad. fr. « Esquisse d'une théorie de la vérité », in D. Bonnay et M. Cozic (eds.), Philosophie de la logique. Conséquence, preuve et vérité, Paris, Vrin, 2009, 336-376.
Mulligan, K., P. Simons, and B. Smith, 1984, "Truth-Makers," Philosophy and Phenomenological Research,44: 287-321. Trad. fr. « Vérifacteurs », Études de philosophie n°9-10, Presses del'Université Provence, 2011, 104-138.
Putnam, H., 1975, "What is mathematical truth?", Historia Mathematica, 2:529-533; reproduced in Mathematics, matter and method. Philosophical Papers, vol. I, Cambridge University Press, 1979, 61-78. Trad. fr. « Qu'est-ce que la vérité mathématique ? », in S. Gandon et I. Samdja, Philosophie des mathématiques. Ontologie, vérité, fondements, Paris, Vrin, 2013, 117-127.
Smith, B. & Brogaard, B., 2000, "A unified theory of truth and reference", Logique Et Analyse 43 (169-170):49-93. Trad. fr. « Une théorie unifiée de la vérité et de la référence », in J.-M. Monnoyer (ed.), La structure du monde : objets, propriétés, états de choses, Vrin, 2004, 141-181.
Tarski, A., 1933, "The semantic conception of truth and the foundations of semantics", Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, 1944, 4 (3): 341-376. Trad. fr. « La conception sémantique de la vérité et les fondements de la sémantique », in D. Bonnay et M. Cozic (eds.), Philosophie de la logique. Conséquence, preuve et vérité, Paris, Vrin, 2009.
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Out-of-session test(s)
Further information:
Any session :
- In-person
written exam
- Remote
written work
- If evaluation in "hybrid"
preferred remote
Additional information:
Students are expected to attend the seminar. Active participation to the discussion (including the presentation of assigned readings amounts to 25% of the final assesment mark.
On top of that, students have to
-make an oral presentation of some personal research work, based on further readings, during one of the last sessions of the term (in December) [for 50% of the final assesment mark]
-write a short paper offering a personal summary note on the questions and issues raised in the seminar (2 pages) [for 25% of the final assesment mark]. This paper should be handed in at the end of the january exam session.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
IMPORTANT : This seminar is organised in even years. It will therefore not be organised during the academic year 2025-2026.
Contacts
Laurence BOUQUIAUX,
Département de Philosophie, pl. du 20-Août, 7 à 4000 Liège - 2e étage.
laurence.bouquiaux@uliege.be
Bruno LECLERCQ
Département de Philosophie, pl. du 20-Août, 7 à 4000 Liège - 2e étage.
b.leclercq@uliege.be