Brian W. Carver
PHIL 10: Friday 9:10 – 12:40
ST201
Introduction to Philosophy
Spring 2003 -- Section #88527
Instructor: Brian W. Carver
E-mail: bwcarver AT earthlink DOT net
Course Web Site: http://home.earthlink.net/~bwcarver/
REQUIRED TEXTS: Pojman, Louis. Philosophy:
The Quest for Truth 5th Edition
(2002) 0195156242.
Some articles, not in our text, are on
reserve at the library.
Students must go to the library and read/copy these articles.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
(1) Participation (25%): Attendance will be
taken each class meeting.
(2) Exam #1 on Philosophy of Religion (25%): Friday, April 4.
(3) Exam #2 on Metaphysics (25%): Friday, May 9.
(4) Exam #3 on Political Philosophy (25%): Friday, June 6, 8:00 a.m. -
9:15 a.m.
Exams will be based on the readings and lectures and will typically consist of 50 multiple-choice questions. True/False, Short Answer, Fill-in-the-blank, Matching, and Essay questions may also appear. My multiple-choice tests are challenging. Hence, if the class average on an exam is under 75%, I will curve the grades up to make the class average 75%. I do not curve downwards.
Make-up Exams: Make-up exams generally will not be given. If you know you must be absent on one of the scheduled exam dates you should make arrangements with me well in advance.
Attendance: Attendance is expected. Quality class participation and an excellent attendance record may be used to resolve borderline cases.
Drop Policy: The college has determined that the last day to drop without a "W" is March 21, and the last day to drop is May 19. If space permits, I will add students during the first two weeks.
Academic Honesty: I assume you are familiar with the College's policies on Academic Honesty. I consider it my responsibility in cases of academic dishonesty to respond with the most severe penalty.
Students with disabilities: Students with disabilities who may need accommodations for any sort of disability are invited to make an appointment to see me.
Changes to this Syllabus: It is my intention to follow this syllabus as closely as possible. If a change is necessary, this will be discussed in class. For this reason, if you are absent, it is your responsibility to contact me or a fellow student to stay abreast of the class/exam schedule.
Transfer Status: Transferable to UC/CSU, see counselor for limitations.
Course Description (from the College Catalog):PHIL 10 An introduction to Western philosophy through a survey and exploration of significant problem areas of philosophy: meta-physics, theory of knowledge, ethics, political philosophy, and philosophy of religion. The topics are historically covered by stressing their relevance to current conditions and contemporary problems.
Course Goals: We will survey Philosophy of Religion, Metaphysics, and Political Philosophy. Students will, for the most part, be introduced to these ideas through reading of primary texts, in-class lectures, and discussions. Students will illustrate their understanding of the material through discussions & exams.
Schedule:
Introduction to Philosophy
02/21 F: Introduction, Reading Philosophy
02/28 F: 9:10 – 10:25 Plato, The Apology (in Pojman page 6)
10:40 – 11:55 W.K. Clifford, The Ethics of Belief (105)
Philosophy of Religion
The Cosmological Argument
03/07 F: 9:10 – 10:25 Thomas Aquinas - The Five Ways (48)
10:40 – 11:55 William Rowe - Examination of Cosmological Arg (On Reserve)
The Teleological Argument
03/14 F: 9:10 – 10:25 William Paley - The Watch and the Watchmaker (70)
10:40 – 11:55 David Hume - A Critique of the Teleological Argument (73)
The Ontological Argument & Faith and Reason
03/21 F: 9:10 – 10:25 Saint Anselm - The Ontological Argument (80)
10:40 – 11:55 Blaise Pascal - Yes, Faith is a Logical Bet (102)
The Problem of Evil
03/28 F: 9:10 – 10:25 J.L. Mackie - Evil and Omnipotence (On Reserve)
10:40 – 11:55 John Hick - There is a Reason Why God Allows Evil (96)
04/04 F: EXAM #1 on Philosophy of Religion
Free Will, Determinism, Personal Identity, and Immortality
Free Will and Determinism
04/11 F: 9:10 – 10:25 Baron d'Holbach - We Are Completely Determined (333)
10:40 – 11:55 W. T. Stace - Compatibilism (342)
04/18 F: No Class – Spring Break
04/25 F: 9:10 – 10:25 Richard Taylor - Contemporary Defense of Free Will (On Reserve)
The Problem of Personal Identity
10:40 – 11:55 John Locke - Our Psych. Properties Define the Self (289)
05/02 F: 9:10 – 10:25 David Hume - We Have No Substantial Self… (293)
10:40 – 11:55 Parfit & Vesey-Brain Transplants & Personal Identity (296)
05/09 F: EXAM #2 on Metaphysics
Political Philosophy
The Justification of Political Authority
05/16 F: 9:10 – 10:25 Thomas Hobbes - The Absolutist Answer (450)
10:40 – 11:55 John Locke - The Democratic Answer (460)
05/23 F: 9:10 – 10:25 John Stuart Mill - A Classical Liberal Answer (466)
10:40 – 11:55 John Hospers - The Libertarian Answer (On Reserve)
05/30 F: 9:10 – 10:25 Marx & Engels - The Communist Answer (473)
10:40 – 11:55 John Rawls - The Contemporary Liberal Answer (On Reserve)
and Bertrand Russell - The Value of Philosophy (24)
06/06 F: EXAM #3 on Political Philosophy (Final Exam Period 8:00 A.M. - 10:30 A. M)