Phil316_Syllabus_Spring09.htm

Philosophy 316: Philosophy of Mathematics

Timothy Cleveland

Spring 2009

SYLLABUS

Course Text: Gottlob Frege, The Foundations of Arithmetic (1884), 2nd Rev. Ed., Trans. J.L. Austin, Northwestern University Press, 1980, ISBN 0-8101-0605-1; Imre Lakatos, Proofs and Refutations, Ed. John Worrall and Elie Zahar, Cambridge University Press, 1976, ISBN 0-521-29038-4.

Description: A survey of tradtional philosophical problems and views concerning the nature of mathematics. Emphasis will be placed on such questions as: What is the nature of mathematical knowledge? What is mathematical truth? What is a number? What is the relation between logic and mathematics? Is mathematical knowledge empirical? We will approach these problems by carefully reading through Frege's masterpiece The Foundations of Arithmetic as well as Lakatos' classic dialogue Proof and Refutations. We will also read several important contemporary essays in the philosophy of mathematics.

Course Requirements: There will be two exams, a mid-term and a final. Each exam will count 30% of the course grade. Make-up exams will be given only under exceptional circumstances (such as serious illness, bereavement, or university-sponsored trips). There will be no extra-credit assignments.

There will also be 3 one-page paper assignments. Each of these will count 10% of the course grade. Plagiarism will result in automatic failure of the course. For details on plagiarism see NMSU Guidelines.

10% of the course grade will be based on short in-class. On randomly chosen days throughout the semester, there will be a short quiz that will be collected and graded. You will only be allowed to make up these quizzies if you have notified me in advance that you are unable to attend and if you have properly verified your reason for missing the class on that day.

Students with Disabilities: Feel free to call Michael Armendariz, Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities, at 505-646-6840 with any questions you may have on student issues related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All medical information will be treated confidentially.

Feel free to call Jerry Nevarez, Coordinator of Institutional Equity, at 505-646-3635 with any questions about NMSU's Non-Discrimination Policy and complaints of discrimination, including sexual harassment.

Attendance Policy: Missing more than four classes can affect your final grade adversely; i.e., based on the instructor’s discretion, your final letter grade can be lower after four absences. Missing more than three weeks of class consecutively will result in automatic failure!

NMSU email: Official communication to you will often come through your NMSU e-mail box.
Please access it regularly, or forward it to your current use address, as your success in college may ride on your ability to respond quickly.

Office Hours: Monday 1:30-3:00 pm and by appointment, Breland Hall 328, telephone 646-4444, e-mail: tclevela@nmsu.edu

Readings, Homework, and Exams:

Jan. 15 Introduction; Read the introduction to Frege, Foundations of Arithmetic, pp. I-XI.

Jan. 19 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY

Jan. 21 - Feb. 26 Frege's Foundations of Arithmetic

Mar. 3 Mid-term exam

Mar. 9 Last Day to Withdraw with a 'W'

Mar. 5 - Apr. 16 Imre Lakatos, Proofs and Refutations.

Mar. 23-27 SPRING BREAK

Apr. 21 - Apr. 30 Selected essays (handouts) and review

May 7 (Thursday) Final Exam (3:30-5:30 am)

Rules of Engagement

Attendance is not optional. Every day you miss class when there is a quiz, you lose 1 quiz point.
Write legibly. If the instructor can't read your handwriting, then you will receive a zero on the quiz.
Reading the assigned chapters and articles is not optional. You will be quizzed on the assigned readings.
Bring your book and assigned handouts to class every day.
Turn off all cell phones while in class.
Tardiness is not acceptable. It is inconsiderate and rude. That you could not find a parking place is not an excuse. If it is difficult to find a parking place, make sure you get an earlier start. If you come into class after the quiz question has been asked, the quiz question will not be repeated for you and you will automatically lose 1 quiz point.
Leaving class early is not acceptable without a prior excuse. Getting up and walking out is rude, inconsiderate, and a distraction to everyone in class. If you think you will need to be leaving class early, please let me know before class begins.
Do not talk, gossip, or pass notes during class. This is inconsiderate and rude behavior. It not only distracts the instructor, it is also adversely affects those students who really want to learn. If you persist in this behavior, you will be asked to leave. If you are asked to leave the class, you will automatically lose 1 quiz point for that day.
Do not read the newspaper or material pertaining to anything outside this class or listen to music during class time. That is rude and inconsiderate. If reading something—such as the newspaper or other outside material—or listening to music, is more important to you than what is being discussed in this class, then please do not take this class. If you persist in this behavior, you will be asked to leave. If you are asked to leave the class, you will automatically lose 1 quiz point for that day.
You may address me as Tim, Timothy, Mr. Cleveland, Dr. Cleveland, or Professor Cleveland. Do not address me with "hey, you"or "hey, mister" or in any less respectable terms. The same holds for the manner in which you address your fellow students in class.
Do not tell the instructor that you must pass the class or receive a certain grade in the class or you will not graduate or will lose your scholarship. This is manipulative behavior intended to make the instructor feel guilty and to defer undue responsibility onto the instructor. It is up to you to perform well enough to pass the course or retain your scholarship!
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Plagiarism will result in automatic failure of this course! The penalty for plagiarism can include suspension or expulsion from the University. Plagiarism will result in automatic failure of the course. For details on plagiarism see NMSU Guidelines.