philosophy 194哲学

philosophy 194哲学

Philosophy194IntroductiontoKnowledgeandRealityWinter2012ProfessorMatthewDavidsonWebsite:http://tinyurl.com/davidsonphilosophyEmail:fromstudent@fastmail.net(allow2daysforaresponse,put"Philosophy194"inthesubjectline)OfficeHours:TuTh2-4VA228Phone:537-7727CourseDescription.Thiscoursewillexamine(amongotherthings)thenatureofhumanknowledge,thenatureofthehumanmind,therationalityofbeliefinGodgiventheexistenceofevil,anargumentthatitisrationaltobelieveinGod,thenatureofart,andthevalueofeducation.Thereisonerequiredtext,aswellasreadingsavailableonthewebsite.TherequiredtextisExploringPhilosophyed.StephenCahnRecommended:SurelyYou'reJokingMr.FeynmanbyRichardFeynman(recommended)alsoavailableforcheckoutatUH052.AbouttheClassIexpectyoutocometoclasseachdayhavingdonetheassignedreadingandwithquestionstoask.Itwillnotbepossibleforyoutoreadthematerialassignedforthecoursewithouthavingquestions.Youneedtotakenotesonwhatyouarereading,and\nyouneedtowritedownyourquestionsandbringthemtoclass.Thematerialwillbehard.Thisclasswillfocusoncriticallyevaluatingideasthroughclassdiscussionandreflectionbothinsideandoutsideclass.IwillnotfeedyouinformationwhichIexpectyoutomemorize,writedownforatest,andforget.Thegoalofthisclassistoassistyouinthinking.Thisoftenhaslittletodowithmemorizingfacts.Also,justbecauseyou'renotbeingfedaspateofinformationyoushouldn'tthinkyoushouldn'tbetakingnotes.Youshouldbethinkinghardaboutwhatisbeingdiscussedinclass,andyoushouldbetakingnotesasyouthinkthroughproblemsandlistentowhatyourclassmatesorIhavetosay.AssignmentofGradesThegradewillconsistofamidterm(30%),alastexamonthelastdayofclass(10%),nshortcriticalpapersthataregradedtobeassignedrandomlythroughoutthequarterandtobeturnedinthenextclassperiod(worth25/n%each),andafinalpaperduethedayofthefinalworth35%.Theremaybepop-quizzesgiven.Eachwillbeworth3%ofthegrade,andthesepointswillbetakenfromthefinalexam,finalpaper,andmidterm;inthatorder.Thepapersshouldbetyped,anddouble-spacedin12-pointArialorHelveticafont.Nopaperswillbeacceptedlatewithoutaverygoodreason.Youshoulde-mailmetofindoutwhatyoumissedinclassifyoumissclass;notknowingabouttheassignmentisn'tsufficientgroundsforanextensiononit.Alwayskeepextracopiesofyourpapers.AllstudentsshouldbefamiliarwiththeUniversityregulationsonplagiarism,asstatedintheBulletin.YoumayfindalinktotheBulletinandinformationonplagiarismonthewebsite.Inaddition,thereisanextracreditpaperonSurelyYou'reJoking,Mr.FeynmanbyRichardFeynman,thelateCaltechphysicist.Itwillbeworth6%ofthegrade.Formanyofmystudents,readingthisbookhasadeepimpactonthem.Itisdueinthesixthweekofclass.Itcanbeturnedinbythelastdayofclassfor5%.Finalgradeswillbeassignedasfollows:n0%willsufficeforagradeG-.n3%willsufficeforagradeofG.n8%willsufficeforagradeofG+.(So,80%isaB-,83%isaB,and88%isaB+).ClassroomConductPleaseturnoffcellphonesandputthemaway.Pleasedonottalkwhileothersaretalking.Ifyouhavetoleaveclassearly,pleaseletmeknowandsitbythedoor.Ifyouhavesomesortofconditionwhichcausesyoutohavetoleavetheclassroomoften,pleaseletmeknowandsitnearthedoor.\nLaptopsalmostcertainlywillcauseyoutodoworseintheclassthanyouwouldotherwise.Ifyoumustusealaptop,though,pleasesitinthebackrow.Noknives(otherthanpenknives),guns,orotherweapons(throwingstars,nunchakus,garrottes,galleys,halberds,catapults,etc.)areallowedinclass.Ifyouhaveanyoftheseinclass,youforfeityourrighttocontinueinthecourse,andmaybeejectedfromtheclassand/orreferredtotheUniversityforfurtherdisciplinaryaction.Ifyouareinneedofanaccommodationforadisabilityinordertoparticipateinthisclass,pleaseletmeknowASAPandalsocontactServicestoStudentswithDisabilitiesatUH-183,(909)537-5238.Thisclassisarareopportunitytohaveyourmindschallengedandstretched,yourthinkingdeepenedandclarified.Thishasobviouspracticalbenefits,butapartfromtheseIhopethatyouwillseethatthinkingandlearningisgoodforitsownsake,intrinsicallygood.Furthermore,ifphilosophyissomethingthatinterestsyou,Iencourageyoutoconsidertakingfurthercourses,and,maybeevenconsidermajoringinphilosophy.Feelfreetotalktomeaboutotherclassesyoumighttake,orhavealookatthedepartmentwebsitehere.ScheduleThefollowingisaroughscheduleofreadingsandassignments.Wemaydeviatetemporallyfromthescheduleasourinterestsdictate,andwemayexamineadditionalmaterialstoaidinourunderstandingofthetexts.AllreadingsarefromExploringPhilosophyorontheweb.Week1:Introduction;Arguments.TeleologicalArgument:WilliamPaley“NaturalTheology”(Book)Week2:Paley.Swinburne,"WhyGodAllowsEvil"Week3:FinishProblemofEvil.Week4:Personalidentityandresurrection:Perry,“TheProblemofPersonalIdentity”andHick“Resurrection”(bothinbook).\nWeek5:Nagel"WhatisitLiketobeaBat?"Chalmersonthehardproblemofconsciousness(web).Week6:Nagel/Chalmersonthehardproblemofconsciousness(web).FrankJackson,"EpiphenomenalQualia",(127-128,130(Marysection),133).Availableontheweb.Week7:FinishJackson.Unger"IDoNotExist"(web)andDescartesMeditations1-2(web,book).Dickie,“DefiningArt”—website.Week8:FinishDickie,UngerandDescartes.Ayer"WhatisKnowledge",Gettier"IsJustifiedTrueBeliefKnowledge?"(Book)Week9:FinishAyer/Gettier.Singer"Famine,Affluence,andMorality"(Book)Week10:Hook"WhatisaLiberalEducation?"(Book)RoughDraftDueThefinalpaperisduethedayofthescheduledfinalexamperiod.Additionalcoursematerialswillbeavailableonthewebpage.