PHIL 10: Friday 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m.
- 1:00 p.m. ST202
Introduction to Philosophy
Fall 2002 -- Section #15276
Instructor: Brian W. Carver
E-mail: bwcarver at earthlink dot net
Course Web Site: http://home.earthlink.net/~bwcarver/
REQUIRED TEXTS: Louis Pojman, Philosophy: The Quest for Truth 4th Edition
(1999) Wadsworth Publishing ISBN: 0534551874. This text is available new
for $66.95 from bn.com. (A 5th Edition is available, and will work
fine, but the 4th Edition is preferable.) Three articles 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%): Saturday, September 21.
(3) Exam #2 on Metaphysics (25%): Saturday, October 6.
(4) Exam #3 on Political Philosophy (25%): Saturday, October 20.
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: You should check with Student Services to determine the last
day to drop without a "W" and the last day to drop. If space permits, I
will add students during the first two meetings.
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.
Introduction to Philosophy
09/06 F: Introduction, Reading Philosophy
09/07 S: 8:00 – 9:15 Plato - The Apology (in Pojman 6-18)
9:25 – 10:40 W.K. Clifford - The Ethics of Belief (91-96)
Philosophy of Religion
The Cosmological Argument
10:50 – 12:05 Thomas Aquinas - The Five Ways (42-45)
09/13 F: 6:00 – 7:15 William Rowe - Examination of Cosmological Arg (On
Reserve)
The Teleological Argument
7:15 – 8:30 William Paley - The Watch and the Watchmaker (57-59)
09/14 S: 8:00 – 9:15 David Hume - A Critique of the Teleological Argument
(60-66)
The Ontological Argument & Faith and Reason
9:25 – 10:40 Saint Anselm - The Ontological Argument (68-71)
10:50 – 12:05 Blaise Pascal - Yes, Faith is a Logical Bet (88-91)
The Problem of Evil
09/20 F: 6:00 – 7:15 J.L. Mackie - Evil and Omnipotence (On Reserve)
7:15 – 8:30 John Hick - There is a Reason Why God Allows Evil (82-87)
09/21 S: 8:00 – 10:30 EXAM #1
Free Will, Determinism, Personal Identity, and Immortality
Free Will and Determinism
10:50 – 12:05 Baron d'Holbach - We Are Completely Determined (319-331)
09/27 F: 6:00 – 7:15 W. T. Stace - Compatibilism (341-347)
7:15 – 8:30 Richard Taylor - Contemporary Defense of Free Will (356-364)
The Problem of Personal Identity
09/28 S: 8:00 – 9:15 John Locke - Our Psych. Properties Define the Self (281-285)
9:25 – 10:40 David Hume - We Have No Substantial Self… (285-288)
10:50 – 12:05 Parfit & Vesey-Brain Transplants & Personal Identity
(288-294)
Immortality
10/05 F: 6:00 – 7:15 Paul Edwards - An Argument Against Survival… (300-309)
7:15 – 8:30 John Hick - In Defense of Immortality (309-316)
10/06 S: 8:00 – 10:30 EXAM #2
Political Philosophy
The Justification of Political Authority
10:40 – 11:55 Thomas Hobbes - The Absolutist Answer (463-476)
10/12 F: 6:00 – 7:15 John Locke - The Democratic Answer (476-482)
7:15 – 8:30 David Hume – Of the Original Contract (On Reserve)
10/13 S: 8:00 – 9:15 John Stuart Mill - A Classical Liberal Answer (482-487)
9:25 – 10:40 John Hospers - The Libertarian Answer (487-493)
10:50 – 12:05 Marx & Engels - The Communist Answer (493-503)
10/19 F: 6:00 – 7:15 John Rawls - The Contemporary Liberal Answer (503-513)
7:15 – 8:30 Bertrand Russell - The Value of Philosophy (18-22)
10/20 S: EXAM #3 (Final Exam Period 8:00 A.M. - 10:30 A. M)