PHI 10 - Introduction to Philosophy

Spring, 2003

TTH 1:50-3:35 p.m. QD 202

Instructor: Brian W. Carver

E-mail: bwcarver@earthlink.net

Course Web Site: http://home.earthlink.net/~bwcarver/

REQUIRED TEXTS: Louis Pojman, Philosophy: The Quest for Truth 5th Edition.

Some articles, not in our textbook, are on reserve at the library.

Students must go to the library and read or make copies of these articles.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

(1) Participation (25%): Attendance will be taken at each class meeting.

(2) Exam #1 on Philosophy of Religion (25%): Thursday, March 27.

(3) Exam #2 on Metaphysics (25%): Tuesday, May 6.

(4) Exam #3 on Political Philosophy (25%):Thursday, June 5, 11:00a.m.-12:15p.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.

Add/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 who attend every class through February 27.

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.

Course Description (from the College Catalog): An introduction to Western philosophy through a survey and exploration of significant problem areas of philosophy: metaphysics, 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

2/18 T: Introduction, Reading Philosophy

2/20 R: Plato, The Apology (in Pojman page 6)

2/25 T: W.K. Clifford - The Ethics of Belief (105)

Philosophy of Religion

The Cosmological Argument

2/27 R: Thomas Aquinas, The Five Ways (48)

3/04 T: William Rowe, An Examination of the Cosmological Argument (On Reserve)

The Teleological Argument

3/06 R: William Paley, The Watch and the Watchmaker (70)

3/11 T: David Hume, A Critique of the Teleological Argument (73)

The Ontological Argument

3/13 R: Saint Anselm, The Ontological Argument (80)

Faith and Reason

3/18 T: Blaise Pascal - Yes, Faith is a Logical Bet (102)

The Problem of Evil

3/20 R: J.L. Mackie - Evil and Omnipotence (On Reserve)

3/25 T: John Hick - There is a Reason Why God Allows Evil (96)

3/27 R: EXAM #1

Metaphysics

Free Will and Determinism

4/01 T: Baron d'Holbach - We Are Completely Determined (333)

4/03 R: W. T. Stace - Compatibilism (342)

4/08 T: Richard Taylor - A Contemporary Defense of Free Will (348)

The Problem of Personal Identity

4/10 R: John Locke - Our Psychological Properties Define the Self (289)

4/15 T: & 4/17 R: No Classes - Spring Break

4/22 T: David Hume - We Have No Substantial Self... (293)

4/24 R: Parfit and Vesey - Brain Transplants and Personal Identity (296)

Immortality

4/29 T: Paul Edwards - An Argument Against Survival... (308)

5/01 R: John Hick - In Defense of Immortality (317)

5/06 T: EXAM #2

Political Philosophy

The Justification of Political Authority

5/08 R: Thomas Hobbes - The Absolutist Answer (450)

5/13 T: John Locke - The Democratic Answer (460)

5/15 R: John Stuart Mill - A Classical Liberal Answer (466)

5/20 T: John Hospers - The Libertarian Answer (On Reserve)

5/22 R: Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels - The Communist Answer (473)

5/27 T: John Rawls - The Contemporary Liberal Answer (On Reserve)

5/29 R: Bertrand Russell - The Value of Philosophy (24)

6/05 R: 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Final Exam Period): EXAM #3