(BA) (4-year-programme) - The University of Hong Kong

166Knowledge and realityMind and languageMoral and political philosophyHistory of philosophyOf the second- through fourth-year courses, twelve to sixteen will normally be offered each year. Thespecific courses offered each year are published on the Department’s website in August. Not everycourse will be available in every three-year period. Some courses are likely to be offered every year,however, while some are offered at least once every two to three years to make sure that every studenthas an opportunity to take them. Details are indicated below.Group I: Knowledge and RealityPHIL2006.Logic for philosophers 1 (6 credits)This is the first part of a two web-based self-study course on elementary formal logic for philosophymajors. The courses may also be taken by non-majors with permission of their home department.Formal logic uses special symbolic notations to study reasoning and arguments systematically. In thiscourse we shall look at some basic concepts in logic, and learn how to use special logical symbols toconstruct and evaluate arguments. There are no lectures in this course, and all teaching material isavailable online for self-study. There are, however, optional tutorials for students to ask questions.Registered students should visit the philosophy department web site at the beginning of the semesterto find out how they can obtain access to the learning material.Assessment: 60% coursework, 40% exam.Note: Students who have completed PHIL1006, PHIL1068, or PHIL2510 may not take this course.PHIL2008.Logic for philosophers 2 (6 credits)This is the second part of a two web-based self-study course on elementary formal logic forphilosophy majors. The courses may also be taken by non-majors with permission of their homedepartment. Formal logic uses special symbolic notations to study reasoning and argumentssystematically. In this course we shall look at some basic concepts in logic, and learn how to usespecial logical symbols to construct and evaluate arguments. There are no lectures in this course, andall teaching material is available online for self-study. There are, however, optional tutorials forstudents to ask questions. Registered students should visit the philosophy department web site at thebeginning of the semester to find out how they can obtain access to the learning material.Assessment: 60% coursework, 40% exam.Note: Students who have completed PHIL1008, PHIL1068, or PHIL2510 may not take this course.PHIL2100.Paradoxes of decision (6 credits)The aim of the course is to introduce a variety of tools from decision theory. Decision theory isarguably one of the most important topics in philosophy because of its pervasive influence on a widerange of traditional philosophical topics, including ethics and epistemology. The central question is:which actions are rational in the face of risk or uncertainty? Some of the writings on this topic arevery technical, but the course will try to skip over technicalities as much as possible and introducemost of the main topics via a series of paradoxes or puzzles. Topics which will be covered includeobjective and subjective expected utility theory; Newcomb’s problem and causal decision theory;game theory and the Nash equilibrium; and evolutionary game theory and the evolution of the socialcontract.Assessment: 100% coursework.