Problems in Philosophy: Instructor: Dr. Emily M. Crookston TA: MaryEllen Knowledge, Minds, Email: [email protected] VanDerHeyden Obligation, and Value Office: Wilson Hall 107 m. e. vanderheyden@wustl. edu L30 PHIL 120F 01 Office phone: 935-8036 Office: Wilson Hall 116 Spring 2012 Office hours: M 9-10am, Th 3- Office phone: 935-7913 Dunker 101 4pm, and by appointment Office hours: M 2:30-3:30pm, MW 1-2:30pm Wll:30-12:30pm,andby appointment Description This course is an introduction to some problems that concern some philosophers. We begin with a fundamental problem in epistemology: the problem of knowledge. In this part of the course we will ask and (attempt to) answer questions such as the following: How can we be sure there exists something rather than nothing? What kind of evidence is sufficient for knowledge? Wnat is the difference between a lucky guess and knowledge? What is the difference between truth and justification? In the second part of the course, we explore a somewhat related problem in metaphysics known as the mind-body problem. Here we will examine the nature of the mind and how it relates to the body. What does it mean to say that something is a thinking thing? Can only human beings think? What about computers or animals? What role does consciousness play in thought? Third, we will examine a specific problem in political philosophy: the problem of political obligation. The main question here is whether we have a moral duty to obey the law. Is the government justified in demanding that its citizens obey its commands? Finally, we will explore several problems in ethics related to moral value; these topics include feminism, distributive justice, abortion, and the meaning of life. The broad objectives for this course are (1) to give you a sense of what philosophers think about and why and (2) to teach you to think philosophically for yourselves. The point of the course is not to provide a neat, unified account of "the Truth" about the matters under discussion. That would be a poor way to introduce the subject. Philosophy is not like physics where there is a large body of established truth—established truth, which no physicist would question and which beginners must master (the law of thermodynamics, for example). In philosophy, by contrast, everything is controversial. Professional philosophers disagree about even the most fundamental issues; however, that does not imply that there are no 'right or wrong' answers. Philosophy is first and last an exercise in reason. The ideas that should come out on top are the ones that have the best reasons on their sides. My hope is that you as students learn enough in this course to begin to assess for yourselves where the weight of reason rests both inside and outside of the classroom. Requirements A. Participation (20%): The success and enjoyment of this and any class depends upon the involvement of its members. Please do not be afraid to share even your less-than-fully-
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Problems in Philosophy: Instructor: Dr. Emily M. Crookston TA: MaryEllenKnowledge, Minds, Email: [email protected] VanDerHeydenObligation, and Value Office: Wilson Hall 107 m. e. vanderheyden@wustl. eduL30 PHIL 120F 01 Office phone: 935-8036 Office: Wilson Hall 116Spring 2012 Office hours: M 9-10am, Th 3- Office phone: 935-7913Dunker 101 4pm, and by appointment Office hours: M 2:30-3:30pm,MW 1-2:30pm Wll:30-12:30pm,andby
appointment
Description
This course is an introduction to some problems that concern some philosophers. We begin witha fundamental problem in epistemology: the problem of knowledge. In this part of the course wewill ask and (attempt to) answer questions such as the following: How can we be sure thereexists something rather than nothing? What kind of evidence is sufficient for knowledge? Wnatis the difference between a lucky guess and knowledge? What is the difference between truth andjustification? In the second part of the course, we explore a somewhat related problem inmetaphysics known as the mind-body problem. Here we will examine the nature of the mind andhow it relates to the body. What does it mean to say that something is a thinking thing? Can onlyhuman beings think? What about computers or animals? What role does consciousness play inthought? Third, we will examine a specific problem in political philosophy: the problem ofpolitical obligation. The main question here is whether we have a moral duty to obey the law. Isthe government justified in demanding that its citizens obey its commands? Finally, we willexplore several problems in ethics related to moral value; these topics include feminism,distributive justice, abortion, and the meaning of life.
The broad objectives for this course are (1) to give you a sense of what philosophers think aboutand why and (2) to teach you to think philosophically for yourselves.
The point of the course is not to provide a neat, unified account of "the Truth" about the mattersunder discussion. That would be a poor way to introduce the subject. Philosophy is not likephysics where there is a large body of established truth—established truth, which no physicistwould question and which beginners must master (the law of thermodynamics, for example). Inphilosophy, by contrast, everything is controversial. Professional philosophers disagree abouteven the most fundamental issues; however, that does not imply that there are no 'right orwrong' answers. Philosophy is first and last an exercise in reason. The ideas that should comeout on top are the ones that have the best reasons on their sides. My hope is that you as studentslearn enough in this course to begin to assess for yourselves where the weight of reason restsboth inside and outside of the classroom.
Requirements
A. Participation (20%): The success and enjoyment of this and any class depends upon theinvolvement of its members. Please do not be afraid to share even your less-than-fully-
L30 PHIL 120F 01: Problems in Philosophy
worked-out thoughts with the class because undeveloped ideas often lead to fruitfuldiscussion. Each student should come to class having completed the readings assigned forthe day and being prepared to discuss the material. To that end, each student will berequired to turn in a daily one-page summary of each reading assignment at thebeginning of class. All summaries must be typed using a 12-point, Times New Roman (orsimilar) font, and be double-spaced with 1-inch margins. Summaries will count as aportion of your participation grade. You may skip three summaries without penalty.
B. Attendance: I do not have an official attendance policy. However, I do expect you torealize that it is very likely that your participation grade, your exam grades, and youroverall grade will be adversely affected by poor attendance. Additionally, this course willbe taught and assessed on the assumption that students will attend all classes.
C. Writing (35%): Each student will be required to turn in two papers: one short paper, 1-2pages in length (10%), and one longer paper, 3-5 pages in length (25%). All papers mustbe typed using a 12-point, Times New Roman (or similar) font, and be double-spacedwith 1-inch margins. The first paper is due on Friday, February 17th, by 4pm and thesecond is due on Friday, April 6th, by 4pm. Late papers will be penalized 1/3 of a lettergrade for each day late (that means a B+ paper turned in 2 days late (with the weekendcounting as one day) will receive a B-). More information about the format andexpectations for the papers will be given as we approach the due dates.
D. Exams (45%): There will be one mid-term, take-home exam (20%) due in class onMonday, March 19th. The mid-term exam will consist of three or four essay questions.Late exams will be penalized 1/3 of a letter grade for each day late (that means a B+exam turned in 2 days late (with the weekend counting as one day) will receive a B-).Additional information about the content of the exam will be given as we approach thedue date. The final exam (25%) will be a two-hour, in-class exam given during thescheduled exam period on Wednesday, May 9th at 1pm. The final exam will consist ofsome mix of the following: short answer questions, passage ids, and essay questions.More information about the format and expectations for the final will be given as weapproach the final exam date.
E. Appealing Grades: All papers and exams will be graded anonymously using student idnumbers. I am happy to provide clarification about grades; however, if you would like toappeal a grade you must take the following steps. (1) Meet and discuss the grade withthe TA. (2) If you still wish to appeal, notify the TA of your decision and submit a new,identical copy of the assignment to me anonymously. My grade will be final regardless ofwhether it is higher or lower than the original.
this course must be the student's own and written for this particular course. Ideas orwords borrowed without attribution from another person or borrowed from one's ownwork done for another course constitutes plagiarism. The university's academic integritypolicy or honor code is outlined clearly on the Student Conduct page athttD://studentCOnduct.WUStl.edu/inteffritv/r)o1icv. Tf mv TA or T rlisr.nver an instanrs nf
L30 PHIL 120F 01: Problems in Philosophy
plagiarism or any other violation of the academic integrity policy, the student(s) willautomatically fail the course and be reported according to the proper procedures. I takeall violations of academic integrity, including but not limited to lying, cheating, andstealing, very seriously.
G. Required Texts:Joel Feinberg and Russ Shafer-Landau (eds.). Reason and Responsibility: Readings inSome Basic Problems of Philosophy. Wadsworth Publishing, 14th ed. (2011). ISBN:0495812838 (RR).
• C.H. Wellman and A. John Simmons. Is There a Duty to Obey the Law? (For andAgainst). Cambridge University Press, 2005. ISBN: 0521537843 (DOL).
• One reading can be found on JSTOR, an electronic database available online throughthe library's homepage.
Schedule*
ITfffMI O S 1 Reading01/18 Introduction to course None
01/23 Introduction to Philosophy: Plato and Russell RR,?. 1-14
I. Problem of Knowledge
Date Topic Readings01/25 Skepticism: Pollock, Huemer, and Chisholm RR, p. 153-166
01/30 Nature of Knowledge: Plato, Gettier, and Cornman,etal
RR, p. 167-174
02/01 Knowledge of External World: Russell RR, p. 175-182
02/06 Knowledge of External World: Descartes RR, p. 182-198
02/08 Knowledge of External World: Descartes (cont.j RR, p. 198-214
02/13 Knowledge of the External World: Locke andBerkeley
RR, p. 215-230
02/15 Knowledge of the External World: Reid and Moore RR, p. 231-237
02/17 SHORT PAPER DUE 4pm
L30 PHIL 120F 01: Problems in Philosophy
II. Mind-Body Problem
r m i Topic Reading02/20 The Problem: Gertler RR, p. 303-315
02/22 The Problem: Jackson and Carruthers RR, p. 315-327
02/27 Non-Human Minds: Turing and Searle RR, p. 335-350
02/29 Non-Human Minds: Lycan and Carruthers RR, p. 350-363
03/05 Non-Human Minds: Searle RR, p. 364-373
III. Problem of Political Obligation
IliEWSMI Topic Reading03/07 Why I'm not an Anarchist: Wellman DOL, p. 2-29
03/12 NO CLASS Spring Break!
03/14 NO CLASS Spring Break!
03/19 Doing One's Fair Share: WellmanMIDTERM EXAM DUE
DOL, p. 30-53in class
03/21 Just and Unjust Laws: Wellman DOL, p. 54-73
03/26 Confronting Injustice: Wellman DOL, p. 74-89
03/28 The Problem and Theories: Simmons DOL, p. 93-120
04/02 Natural Duties and the Duty to Obey: Simmons DOL, p. 121-142
04/04 Natural Duties and the Duty to Obey: Simmons DOL, p. 142-165
04/06 LONGER PAPER DUE 4pm
04/09 Natural Duties and the Duty to Obey: Simmons DOL, p. 166-188
Related Documents
