Properties: Theory and Application
Instructor: Joseph M. Vukov
Meeting Time: TBA
Location: TBA
Office: TBA
Office Hours: TBA
Office Phone: TBA
Email: joseph.vukov@gmail.com
Course Description: A ‘property’ is simply ‘a way something is.’ Given this definition, it is easy enough to
list some of the properties I have – I have the properties, for instance, of ‘being a human,’ ‘weighing more
than 1 kg,’ ‘being located North of Argentina,’ and ‘being disposed to fall if dropped.’ From here, however,
things get complicated. In recent years, philosophers have found the following questions about properties
particularly puzzling:
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Are some properties more natural than others? For instance: does it make sense to say that my
property of ‘being a human’ is somehow more natural than my property of ‘being located North of
Argentina’?
How do we explain that different things can have similar properties? How do we explain, for
instance, that both a grape and a Minnesota Vikings jersey can have the property of ‘being purple’?
What is the relationship between a thing’s properties and its powers? What, for instance, is the
relationship between a diamond’s hardness and its power to cut glass?
These questions are hard enough to answer. The way in which we answer them, however, influences the
way in which we address issues in other areas of philosophy, and indeed, ways in which we address issues
beyond the philosophy classroom. Our understanding of properties, for instance, influences the ways in
which we think about the following questions:
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Are properties such as ‘being male’ or ‘being female’ natural properties? Are they biological?
Socially constructed? Or something else?
Do some things have the property ‘being a piece of art’ or ‘being beautiful’? If yes, which things
have these properties?
Do our mental states have qualitative properties? Is there, for instance, a certain qualitative property
that accompanies seeing red, or looking at a piece of art?
The first half of this class will focus on the former set of question – the second half will focus on the latter.
Through the course of the semester, we will therefore be considering both contemporary theories of
properties and important applications of these theories.
Course Objectives: The objectives of the course are fourfold:
First, students who successfully complete the course will demonstrate the development of critical thinking
skills. These skills include, but are not limited to: the ability to use logic to identify, construct, and evaluate
arguments; the ability to write clearly and concisely; the ability to read and respond critically to
philosophical writing.
Second, students who successfully complete the course will demonstrate familiarity with and appreciation of
key issues concerning properties. To understand and appreciate an issue in philosophy involves – at the
Syllabus, Properties: Theory and Application, page 1 of 6
very least – the ability to articulate major positions, reasons to think these positions might be true, and some
potential objections to them.
Third, students who successfully complete this course will demonstrate the ability to deploy the
methodology used in contemporary metaphysics – in their writing, discussion, and conversation.
Fourth, students who successfully complete this course will understand the ways in which the metaphysics of
properties influences our thinking in other areas of philosophy and beyond the philosophy classroom
Prerequisites: At least one philosophy class. Some background in philosophical logic is ideal, but students
with little background in logic will be provided with the opportunity to learn what is necessary for the
course.
Notice from the Office of Disability Services. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of
the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, all students, with or without disabilities, are entitled to equal
access to the programs and activities of this university. If you believe that you have a disabling condition that
may interfere with your ability to participate in the activities, coursework, or assessment of the object of this
course, you may be entitled to accommodations. Please schedule an appointment to speak with someone at
the Office of Disability Services.
Texts
Required
Universals: An Opinionated Introduction David Armstrong
Selected Readings Available on Blackboard
Academic Integrity
Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will not be tolerated. All offenses will be reported to the dean of the
student’s college. The burden of knowing what plagiarism is falls on you.
Penalties for plagiarism are – at minimum – as follows:
First Offense: The student will receive an F on the assignment. Second Offense: The student will receive
an F in the course. For this university’s full official policy on academic integrity, see: WEBSITE
Basic Expectations
I expect from you:
 Interaction: I expect you to interact regularly, intelligently, and respectfully with the readings,
with your classmates, and with me.
 Preparation: I expect you to complete your readings and assignments by the day for which they
are assigned.
 Thoughtfulness: I expect all of your work to demonstrate time spent thinking. Our texts all
merit careful reading; the issues and ideas we will be covering are complex and must be
addressed as such. In short, whether you are explaining another’s view or putting forward your
own, I expect your work to reflect effort.
Syllabus, Properties: Theory and Application, page 2 of 6
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Punctuality: I expect you to arrive to every class session and turn in every assignment on time.
Late assignments will not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made at least three
days before the assignment is due.
To turn off any screens: Computers and cell phones are not to be used in the classroom.
You Can Expect from Me:
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Timeliness: I will return your assignments in a timely fashion. I will also reply to emails within 48
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hours of receiving them.
Preparation: I will come to class well-prepared for the day’s lesson.
Availability: I will be available at office hours and as needed (within reason) to answer any questions
about assignments, grading, or any other aspect of the course.
Means of Evaluation
Your final grade will be a weighted one. This means that various assignments will count towards a certain
percentage of your final grade. The assignments and their respective weights are as follows:
Rehearsals: 30%
To do philosophy well, one must be able to articulate the arguments of others clearly, concisely, and
accurately. During the course of this semester, you will therefore rehearse three arguments of your choice –
these arguments can be taken from a reading, a lecture, or class discussion. All rehearsals, however, must:
1. Argue for a clearly articulated thesis – e.g. ‘properties are sparse, not abundant’ or ‘gender
predicates do not correspond to any property humans have.’
2. Be presented as if you were defending the position. Your rehearsal, in other words should present
the argument in the best possible light.
After you submit a first draft of your rehearsals, I will return your paper with a tentative grade and
comments. You should then revise the rehearsal according to these comments before submitting your next
draft. You may submit up to three drafts of each rehearsal, and only your highest score will be recorded.
But nota bene: I reserve the right to take up to one week to return comments, so you should plan your
submissions accordingly.
Midterm: 15%
The midterm will consist of short answer and essay questions drawn from readings, class discussions,
presentations, and lectures. I will distribute a study guide at least one week before the exam.
Attendance/Participation: 10%
Attendance will be recorded at every class session, and is mandatory. For every unexcused absence, I will
deduct 2 percentage points from your attendance grade (i.e. if you miss one session, you will receive 8% for
attendance; two sessions, 6%; and so on). For the university’s policy on excused absences, see: WEBSITE
ON EXCUSED ABSENCES. I also expect you participate regularly in class discussions – infrequent
participation will lead to a reduced grade in this category.
Syllabus, Properties: Theory and Application, page 3 of 6
Pick a Property Presentation: 10%
Each member of the class will pick a property and present it to the class. Think of this as a philosophy show
and tell. The requirements for your presentation are as follows:
1. Introduce a property (e.g. ‘being blue’; ‘being rock music’; ‘being a Fordham University student’;
‘being slightly annoyed’) to the class.
2. Give us an analysis of the property you chose. This analysis could (but need not) include answering
the following questions:
a. What does it take for something to have this property?
b. How would we go about learning whether or not something has this property?
c. Is this property natural? Non-natural?
d. What does it matter if something has this property? the most important parts of the day’s
reading.
3. In the course of giving your analysis, refer to at least two readings we have covered in class, and at
least one source we have not covered in class.
4. Highlight at least one question (or one issue) that your presentation raises.
5. Lead class discussion among your peers about the property of your choice.
Precisely how you accomplish (1-5) is up to you – different people have different styles of presenting, and
you should present in the style that fits you best. Property Project presentation dates will be assigned the first
week of the course, and will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis. Before anyone presents, I will
distribute my grading rubric.
Final Paper: 15%
Your final paper should draw on – but go beyond – the material we cover in class. The requirements for
your final paper are as follows:
1.
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3.
4.
5.
6.
The paper must engage with at least one of the readings we covered in class.
The paper must engage with at least two sources we did not cover in class.
The paper must have a clearly articulated thesis statement.
The paper must clearly articulate and defend an argument for the paper’s thesis.
The paper must rehearse and respond to at least one objection to the paper’s thesis.
You must meet with me at least once to discuss a draft of your paper.
The requirements spelled out in (1-6) are necessary but not sufficient conditions for receiving a good grade
on your final paper. We will, therefore, be devoting class time to discussing what else it takes to write an
excellent research paper in philosophy. Note also that your final paper is due several class session before
our final class – this will, I hope, make the end of your semester more manageable.
Final Paper Due: Class 23
Final 20%
The final will be similar to your midterm, and will consist of both short answer and essay questions drawn
from readings, lectures, and class discussions. The exam will be cumulative, but will focus on material from
the second half of the semester. I will distribute a study guide at least one week before the exam.
Final Exam Date: TBD
Syllabus, Properties: Theory and Application, page 4 of 6
Schedule of Readings and Assignments
All readings and assignments are subject to alteration or modification.
Readings available on Blackboard are indicated with a BB.
Course Introduction and Historical Discussions
Class 1 – Course Introduction
Class 2 – Plato – Parmenides [BB]
Class 3 – Russell – ‘The World of Universals’ from Problems in Philosophy [BB]
Properties: Theories
Properties: Sparse or Abundant?
Class 4 – Lewis – “New Work for a Theory of Universals” [BB]
Class 5 – Armstrong – Chapter 1
Class 6 – Sider – selections from Writing the Book of the World [BB]
Class 7 – Schaffer – “Two Conceptions of Sparse Properties” [BB]
Realism, Nominalism, Tropes
Class 8 – Armstrong – Chapter 2
Class 9 – Armstrong – Chapter 3
Class 10 – Williams – “On the Elements of Being” [BB]
Properties and Powers
Class 11 – Lewis – selections from The Plurality of Worlds [BB]
Class 12 – Bird – selections from Nature’s Metaphysics [BB]
Class 13 – Jacobs – “Powerful Qualities, Not Pure Powers” [BB]; Heil – “Dispositions” [BB]
Class 14 – Midterm Review
Class 15 – Midterm
Syllabus, Properties: Theory and Application, page 5 of 6
Properties: Applications
Properties and Gender
Class 16 – Mikkola – “Elizabeth Spelman, Gender Realism, and Women” [BB]
Class 17 – Stoljar – “Different Women: Gender and the Realism-Nominalism Debate”
Class 18 – Haslanger – “Gender and Race: (What) are they? (What) do we want them to be?” [BB]
Class 19 – Barnes – “Going beyond the Fundamental: Feminism in Contemporary Metaphysics” [BB]
Properties, Art, and Beauty
Class 20 – Plato – selections from Republic [BB]
Class 21 – Danto – “The Art World” [BB]
Class 22 – Hume – “On the Standard of Taste” [BB]
Class 23 – Kawabata & Zeki – “Neural Correlates of Beauty” [BB]; Grammer & Thornhill – “Human
(Homo sapiens) Facial Attractiveness and Sexual Selection: The Role of Symmetry and
Averageness” [BB] – FINAL PAPER DUE
Properties and Qualia
Class 24 –Chalmers – selections from The Conscious Mind [BB]
Class 25 – Dennett – “Quining Qualia” [BB]
Class 26 – Lewis – “Postscript to Mad Pain and Martian Pain” [BB]; Rosenthal – “How to Think About
Mental Qualities”; Noë – selections from Action in Perception [BB]
Class 27 – Final Review
Final: Date TBD
Syllabus, Properties: Theory and Application, page 6 of 6