SENIOR SEMINAR: THEORIES OF TRUTH
PHIL 483, Sec. 1001: MW 11:30am-12:45pm in CEB 240
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Spring 2024
Professor: James Woodbridge
email address:
Course Website: http://jwood.faculty.unlv.edu/unlv/Phil483S24.htm
Office Hours: M 2:30pm-4pm, T 12:30pm-2pm, and by appointment
Office: CDC 426
Dept. Phone: 895-3433
FIRST PAPER TOPIC
Write a 6-8 page (2000-2600 word) paper fulfilling the tasks assigned below.
Your paper is due via WebCampus/Canvas, through the Turnitin.com program linked to the Assignment listing there, before midnight on Tuesday, March 26th [Note the new later due date!]. The file that you submit to Turnitin should have the following format for its filename: yourstudentnumber.PHIL483S24.paper1.docx. So that I can grade "blind", your name should not appear anywhere on your paper (e.g., not in the header). Finally, you must submit a .docx (or .docm or .doc) file so that I can use Word to make comments on it. If you do not use Word, you must convert your file to this format before submitting it.
Topic:
There are several different options for what you might argue for in your first paper, but there is a general path you should travel before reaching your conclusion. You goal is to champion one of the theories of the nature of truth that we have considered so far as the best of the current options (those being the views of Russell, Wittgenstein, Austin, Blanshard, Walker, Peirce, and James). So, first you should discuss which correspondence theory of truth is the best version of that kind of view, explaining the central ideas of that theory. This will involve explaining, in your own words, how the theory you are focusing on understands the three elements that any theory of truth must account for: the truth-bearers, the truth-relation, and the truth-makers. In discussing these aspects of your chosen theory, pay particular attention to explaining the truth-relation. Then give reasons for preferring your chosen correspondence theory over other two options. (Here the David and Strawson articles, and the Kirkham selections on correspondence theories will help, i.e., cite them.) Next, discuss which epistemic (or "nonrealist") theory of truth you think is best of the four options for that approach, again explaining, in your own words, the details of how that theory understands the three central components of any theory of truth. Then give reasons for preferring your choice of best epistemic theory over the others. Finally, by considering the main objections the each face and how well they deal with them, discuss whether you think your preferred correspondence theory or your preferred epistemic theory is the better theory of truth overall. (Here the Putnam and Alston readings and the Kirkham selections on nonrealist or epistemic theories of truth will help, i.e., cite them.)
Be sure to look at my Paper Requirements and Policies and check this Numbered Writing Comments Sheet to be aware of various writing infelicities that you should avoid.
Keep your paper within the page/word limit!