PHIL 310

Paradoxes

Juan Comesaa
comesana@arizona.edu
127 Social Sciences
Office Hours: Wednesdays 10:00-11:00 and by appointment.

Description of course
In this class we will study a cluster of puzzles, paradoxes and intellectual wondersfrom
Zeno's Paradox to the paradoxes of Set Theoryand discuss their philosophical
implications. Each of the paradoxes to be covered is interesting in its own right, but they
also present great opportunities for introducing students to some of the main philosophical
topics (space and time, vagueness, decision theory, epistemology, set theory and theories of
truth) alongside with some fruitful philosophical techniques.

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Required Texts
R.M. Sainsbury, Paradoxes, Cambridge University Press (3rd. edition), 2009.
D. Papineau, Philosophical Devices, 2012.

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Course Requirements
Laptops and other electronic devices are not allowed in class. You are also not allowed to
read the newspaper, do Sudokus, etc. To sum up: you should be paying attention to what is
going on in class, and only to that. You are strongly encouraged to participate in class. Your
interaction with me and other students should conform to the usual norms of politeness.
Please read the UA policy against threatening behavior: http://policy.web.arizona.edu/
threatening-behavior-students

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Week by Week Schedule of Topics and Readings

This schedule is tentative and subject to change.

Zenos Paradoxes

Week 8:

Week 1:

Utility and credences. Papineau, chapter 7,

sections 7.5-7.9 , chapter 8, sections
8.2-8.7

Introduction. Sainsbury, Chapter 1,

sections 1 and 2.
Week 2:
The Racetrack. Sainsbury, Chapter 1,
sections 3 and 4. Optional: Josh Parsons,
The Eleatic hangover cure, Analysis 64
(2004).
Week 3:
Achilles and the Tortoise and the Arrow
Sainsbury, Chapter 1, sections 5 and 6.
More on Infinity and Russells Paradox
Week 4:
Sets and Infinity. Papineau, Chapter 1,
sections 1.1-1.7, chapter 2.
Week 5:
Sets and Infinity, cont. Papineau, chapter 3.
Week 6:

Decision Theory
Week 9:
The Newcombs problem. Sainsbury,
Chapter 4, section 1.
Week 10:
Prisonners Dilemma. Sainsbury, Chapter 4,
sections 2. Optional: Branden Fitelson,
The Paradox of Confirmation,
Philosophy Compass 1 (2006).
Epistemology
Week 11:
Confirmation Theory and the Grue Paradox
Sainsbury, Chapter 5, section 1.3
Week 12:
The Unexpected Examination Paradox
Sainsbury, chapter 5, sections 2 and 3

Russells paradox. Papineau, chapter 1,

sections 1.8-1.11. Sainsbury, chapter 6, section
6.1

Truth

Probability

The Liars Paradox Sainsbury, Chapter 6,

sections 2-8.

Week 7:
Basics of probability. Papineau, chapter 7,
sections 7.1-7.4

Week 13:

Week 14:
The Liars Paradox Sainsbury, Chapter 6,
sections 2-8.

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Grading Policy
There will be three in-class exams and a final. The exams are scheduled as follows:

First in class exam: September 15

Second in class exam: October 7
Third in class exam: October 31
Final exam: December 15, 10:30

Your grade will be calculated as follows: Each in-class exam is worth 20% of of your final
grade, the final exam is worth 30%, and class participation is worth 10%.

Plagiarism
All work for this class must be your own. Please see the UA plagiarism policy at: http://
deanofstudents.arizona.edu/policies-and-codes/code-academic-in- tegrity

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Accessibility
If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability, please let
me know immediately so that we can discuss options. You are also welcome to contact
Disability Resources (520-621-3268) to establish reasonable accommodations.