Topics in Ontology
Basic Information
Description
Course plan
1. Introduction
2. Existence
3. Identity
4. Change
5. Personal Identity
The first two sessions consist of an introduction to the topics and methodology of the course; thereafter, the remaining sessions focus on several questions related to the following four issues in metaphysics: existence, identity, change, and personal identity.
Learning outcomes
C01 - To assess the impact of the philosophical theories and arguments studied, with the aim of contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.
C02 - To develop critical thinking that respects plurality and diversity, within a framework of respect for fundamental rights, equality, the freedom and dignity of women and men, and non-discrimination, in the context of philosophical research.
C03 - To demonstrate attitudes consistent with ethical conceptions, deontological codes, and intellectual integrity, with awareness of the implications of the different activities carried out in relevant philosophical work.
C05 - To apply philosophical knowledge and critical skills developed in new practical situations.
C06 - To use diagnostic capacity and creativity to solve philosophical problems.
C07 - To develop autonomous learning skills based on the capacity for analysis, reflection, synthesis, global perspectives, and expert critical reasoning.
H04 - To solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments within multidisciplinary contexts related to philosophy.
H07 - To critically assess lines of argument in specialized philosophy articles.
K03 - To identify the central theories and arguments of contemporary practical philosophy and value theory.
K04 - To identify methodological errors, rhetorical devices, uncritical conventional assumptions, vagueness, and superficiality.
K09 - To identify the central theories and arguments of contemporary theoretical philosophy.
C09 - To use appropriately the terminology, concepts, and methods of specialized philosophy in oral and written discussion.
H06 - To review scientific evidence to support claims and contributions in philosophy.
H08 - To illustrate general philosophical ideas or problems with examples drawn from real life or imaginary cases capable of supporting or refuting a philosophical position.
H09 - To reconstruct arguments from specialized philosophical texts.
H01 - To communicate effectively in spoken and written English in presentations, debates, written work and examinations, at the appropriate level for the academic context of philosophy.
H02 - To use information sources critically and responsibly in accordance with the standards of analytic philosophy.
H03 - To apply philosophical knowledge in an original way in the development and implementation of ideas, especially in a research context.
H05 - To formulate judgments based on incomplete or limited information, including considerations of social and ethical responsibilities.
K01 - To identify the concepts and methods of contemporary analytic philosophy used in the formulation and defence of philosophical proposals.
K02 - To recognize recent debates on different philosophical methodologies, in particular the main theories and main lines of discussion.
K05 - To defend one’s conclusions and the underlying knowledge and reasons before both specialized and non-specialized audiences in a clear and unambiguous manner.
K06 - To discuss problems autonomously within the domain of contemporary theoretical philosophy.
K07 - To illustrate the implications of one of the contemporary theories discussed in its practical context.
K08 - To recognize the fundamental problems in various areas of analytic philosophy.
Goals
Referring to knowledge
Gain knowledge in analytic metaphysics concerning recent literature on existence, identity, change, and personal identity.
Referring to abilities, skills
Acquire research skills in analytic metaphysics concerning recent literature on existence, identity, change, and personal identity.
Referring to attitudes, values and norms
Develop attitudes, values and norms appropriate for research in analytic metaphysics concerning recent literature on existence, identity, change, and personal identity.
Methodology
The first two or three sessions consist of an introduction to the topics and methodology of the course; thereafter, the remaining sessions focus on several questions related to the following four issues in metaphysics: existence, identity, change, and personal identity.
In general, each session is divided into two parts. The first part is devoted to the presentation of the material scheduled for that session, while the second part is devoted to its philosophical discussion.
All participants are expected to have read the assigned papers or chapters in detail in advance, and to come to each session prepared with thoughts, questions, and objections.
Evaluation
Avaluació Continuada will be based on contributions to discussions (30%); the quality of a presentation on an issue discussed in class, to be agreed upon with the instructor (40%); and a short essay (approximately 1,500 words) on a topic related to the seminar, also to be agreed upon with the instructor in due time (30%).
Avaluació Única will be based on contributions to discussions (30%); the quality of a presentation on an issue discussed in class, to be agreed upon with the instructor (40%); and a short essay (approximately 1,500 words) on a topic related to the seminar, also to be agreed upon with the instructor in due time (30%).
Bibliography
Book
Baker, L. (2007) The Metaphysics of Everyday Life. CUP
Baker, L. (2013) Naturalism and the First-Person Perspective. OUP
Blatti, S. Snowdon, P. (eds.) (2016): Animalism: New Essays on Persons, Animals, and Identity. OUP
Evnine, S. (2016): Making Objects and Events. OUP.
Korman, D. (2015): Objects: Nothing out of the Ordinary. OUP Koslicki, K. (2008): The Structure of Objects. OUP
Koslicki, K. (2008): The Structure of Objects. OUP
Merricks, T. (2022): Self and Identity. OUP
Sider, T. Hawthorne, J. Zimmerman, D. (eds.) (2008): Contemporary Debates in Metaphysics. Blackwell
Olson, E. (2007): What Are We? Oxford University Press
Article
Fairchild, M. (2022): ’Arbitrariness and the Long Road to Permissivism’. Noûs 56(3): 619-638
Fairchild, M. (2023): ’Plenitude, Coincidence, and Humility’. Philosophical Perspectives 36(1): 59-77
Gendler, Tamar Szabó (2002). Personal identity and thought-experiments. Philosophical Quarterly 52 (206):34-54.
Miller, Kristie (2004). How to Be a Conventional Person. The Monist 87 (4):457-474.
Olson, Eric T. & Witt, Karsten (2020). Against Person Essentialism. Mind 129 (515):715-735.
Sutton, C. S. (2014). The Supervenience Solution to the Too-Many-Thinkers Problem. Philosophical Quarterly 64 (257):619-639.
Other considerations
In agreement with the University of Barcelona Equality Policy, this course incorporates a gender perspective that includes, among others, the following aspects:
- Regarding class dynamics, it is ensured that everyone feels equally welcomed and encouraged to contribute to class discussions.
- Regarding the content of the course and the readings that are the basis for the different sessions of the course, a bibliography that takes appropriately into account the significant contributions made by women to the topics discussed is used.
- Regarding the grading of the course, awareness is raised about unconscious gender biases that might interfere in the grading process and mechanisms are applied to prevent them.