“I chose to study philosophy here because I was fascinated by the profound questions that it tackles and charmed by the town when I came to visit. Tackling those questions has both sharpened and opened my mind but above all I have enjoyed myself, helped all the way by friendly, extremely talented staff. After over two years of study I still find wonder in my subject.”
Duncan (Thornbury, South Gloucestershire)
Logic is the science of correct reasoning. Modern logic made a great leap forward at the end of the nineteenth century through the work of Frege and Russell. A second breakthrough occurred in the 1930s with the work of Tarski, Gödel and Turing, whose results laid the foundations of modern computational science.
Learning philosophy is as much about learning skills of criticism and analysis, clear thinking and argument, as it is about learning a specific subject matter. Our teaching is designed to develop these skills, which complement the science modules and are of great value in future careers. The staff are at the forefront of research in their varied fields of philosophy – which include formal and philosophical logic, philosophy of science and philosophy of physics – and this expertise and enthusiasm comes across in teaching courses at all levels.
Logic & Philosophy of Science teaching is based in Edgecliffe, a nineteenth-century building with beautiful views out over St Andrews Bay.
Summary of Course Content Students of Logic & Philosophy of Science may take modules from across the whole range of philosophy but we place special emphasis on those aspects of philosophy which interact fruitfully with scientific and mathematical studies.
First Level (1st year) At First level, students take Reasoning and Knowledge, which introduces formal and informal logic, alongside discussion of knowledge and justification. They may also take Mind and Reality, an introduction to philosophical ideas about human subjects and our place in nature.
Second Level (usually 2nd year) At Second level, students take two compulsory courses: Formal and Philosophical Logic – intermediate level study of logical consequence and necessity; Metaphysics and Science – questions of truth, paradox, causality and time. Second level students may also study the history of philosophy, both ancient and modern.
Honours (3rd and 4th years) At Honours level there is a core module in the philosophy of language and metaphysics, and in addition students choose from a range of advanced modules – epistemology (the study of knowledge), the philosophy of language, metaphysics, formal and philosophical logic, philosophy of mind, philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of science, philosophy of physics and the history of philosophy.
At all levels, students may also take modules in Moral Philosophy – this includes the study of ethics, political and legal theory, philosophy of action, aesthetics and philosophy of religion – in addition to their core modules in Logic & Philosophy of Science.
Teaching First and Second level teaching involves both formal lectures and informal tutorials, in which students discuss their ideas, questions and problems with their tutor and with their fellow students. There are also examples classes to support the teaching of formal logic. At more advanced levels, teaching is often conducted in seminars, where students present and discuss their own work.
Scholarships The University awards needs-based Entrant Scholarships to students in Logic & Philosophy of Science. Further information at:
www.st-andrews.ac.uk/scholarships
Careers Logic & Philosophy of Science graduates can either pursue their specific scientific area as a career or turn to the many careers which require those who have been trained to think clearly and effectively.
Recent graduates have found openings in management, accountancy, the law, the Civil Service, education, the National Health Service, banking, insurance, the RAF, the Crown Prosecution Service, publishing, and teaching English in Japan, and many other areas. A substantial proportion of graduates choose to pursue an academic career.
Please see page 42 for details of the University’s Careers Centre.
153
Many distinguished name are found on the list o those wo have taught Philosophy in St Andrews.
Votiva Tabella: A Memorial Volume in connection with the University’s Quincentenary Festival – 1911
Logic & Philosophy of Science
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195