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 5^th 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)