Philosophy of Modality - AFS500321
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This advanced seminar explores ongoing debates in the philosophy of modality. Modal concepts – such as necessity, possibility, and contingency – have always been central to philosophical inquiry, given their relevance to many traditional topics such as the problem of free will, the nature of intentionality and consciousness, the existence of God, and the problem of induction. Contemporary philosophers continue to engage with the logic and semantics of these concepts, as well as the epistemology and metaphysics of modality.
In this seminar, we will closely examine a recently developed position in the philosophy of modality known as ‘modal normativism’. Modal normativism is the philosophical position that the central function of modal vocabulary is to convey norms of reasoning. This view is significant in at least two ways. First, it supports a broadly pragmatist, anti-metaphysical approach that aims to demystify philosophical discussions surrounding the metaphysics of modality and the status of heavyweight metaphysics more generally. Secondly, it examines the intricate relationship between alethic modal and deontic normative vocabularies to shed light on the concept of intentionality, a central concept in our understanding of the (human) mind. Although modal normativism has its roots in the work of 20th-century philosophers such as Carnap, Wittgenstein, and Sellars, its two main defenders in the contemporary literature are Amie Thomasson and Robert Brandom. In this seminar, we will undertake a close study of Thomasson’s 2020 book 'Norms and Necessity' and Brandom’s 2008 book 'Between Saying and Doing'. Students are required to carefully read chapters from these books each week and prepare questions for discussion during the sessions. Last update: Heyndels Sybren, BcA., M.A., Ph.D. (13.09.2024)
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Active participation (max. 2 absences) and submission of an essay on a topic related to the philosophy of modality (+ oral defense). The deadline for the paper submission is the 31st of January. Last update: Heyndels Sybren, BcA., M.A., Ph.D. (30.10.2024)
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The compulsory readings are Amie Thomasson's 'Norms and Necessity' (2020, Oxford University Press) and Robert Brandom's 'Between Saying and Doing' (2008, Oxford University Press). Background reading will be made accessible to students participating in the course. Last update: Heyndels Sybren, BcA., M.A., Ph.D. (27.08.2024)
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