T-R
FAO 233, 974-5571
Office Hours: Wednesday
Course objectives:
The Acquisition of Knowledge has at least five objectives. The first is to acquaint students with major texts in the history of philosophy that define the problematic of epistemology, i.e., the theory of knowledge. The second is to introduce students to contemporary philosophical discussions about how and what we know about our world and ourselves. The third is to develop the abilities of Honors students to engage in critical analysis of philosophical texts and the arguments these texts present. The fourth is to enhance the abilities of Honors students to write a sustained argument in continuous prose and to engage in research supporting the argument they present. The last objective is to prompt students to engage in reflective and critical discussions of issues about knowledge.
Required Texts:
Plato. The
Republic (Proteus Reader)
Descartes, Rene. Meditations
on First Philosophy (Proteus Reader)
Hume, David. Inquiry
into Human Understanding (Proteus Reader)
James, William. Essays
in Pragmatism
Quine, W.V.O. and
Ullian, J.S. Web of Belief
08-24 Introductory Lecture:
Why Are We Here?
08-26
Topics: What is Justice? Does
Might Make Right?
08-31 Plato, Republic,
Books II and III
Topics: Paideia in the Just City (or, How to Make a Just Person)?
09-02 Plato, Republic,
Books, IV and V
The Definition of the Philosopher
09-07Plato, Republic,
Book, VI, VII
Philosophy vs. Public Speech
09-09Plato, Republic,
Books, VIII, IX
Unjust Cities; The Criticism of Democracy
09-14 Plato, Republic,
Book X
Philosophy vs. Poetry
09-16 Descartes, Meditations, I, II,
Skepticism, Doubt, and Knowledge of
One’s Existence
09-21 Descartes, Meditations, III, IV
Error and Evil
The Existence of God
Waugh,
IDH 2010, p. 2
09-23 Descartes, Meditations, V, VI
The Existence of God
Mind and Body
09-28 Hume, Inquiry
Sections 1, 2, 3
Of the Different Species of Philosophy
Of the Origin of Ideas
Of the Association of Ideas
09-30 Hume, Inquiry
Sections, 4, 5, 6
Sceptical Doubts Concerning the Operations
of the Understanding
Sceptical Solutions of These Doubts
Of Probability
10-05 Hume, Inquiry
Sections, 7, 8, 9
Of the Idea Concerning
Necessary Connexion
Of
10-07 Hume, Inquiry
Sections, 10, 11, 12
Of Miracles
Of a Particular
Of the Academical of
Sceptical Philosophy
10-12 James, “The Sentiment of
Rationality”
10-14 James, “The Dilemma of Determinism”
10-19 James,
“The Moral Philosopher and the Moral Life”
10-21 James, “The Will to Believe”
“Conclusions on Varieties of
Religious Experience”
10-26 James, “What Pragmatism Means”
“Pragmatism’s Conception of Truth”
10-28
Guignon,
Chapters 1, 2, 3
The Culture of Authenticity
The Enchanted Garden
The Modern Worldview
11-04 Guignon, Chapters, 4, 5, 6
Romanticism and the Ideal of Authenticity
The Heart Of Darkness
De-Centering the Subject
11-09 Guignon, Chapters 7 & 8
Story-Shaped Selves
Authenticity in Context
11-11 Veterans
Day
11-16 Web of
Belief, I, II
Belief and Change of Belief
11-18 Web of Belief, III, IV
Observation and Self-Evidence
11-23 Web of Belief, V,
VI
Testimony
Hypothesis
11-30 Web of Belief,
VII, VIII
Induction, Analogy, and Intuition
Confirmation and Refutation
12-02 Web of
Belief, IX, X
Explanation, Persuasion, and
Evaluation
ASSIGNMENTS AND EVALUATION
Students will be required to submit 5 papers of 4-6 pages. Each paper will count as 15% of the final grade. There will be a final examination counting as 15% of the final grade. The remaining 10% of the grade will consist of class participation.
ATTENDANCE and
GRADING:
It should go without saying that attendance is expected, indeed, mandatory, and that the final grade for the course may be affected by absences. However, to be legalistic about it, please note the following.
Students are expected to attend all class meetings (of course). Any student who misses four or more class meetings cannot expect to receive a grade higher than a 'B' for the course; students missing six or more classes cannot expect a grade higher than a 'C'; students missing eight or more classes cannot expect a grade higher than a 'D'. Obviously, plagiarism or cheating will not be tolerated; this can hardly come as a surprise. See the policy on academic dishonesty in the Undergraduate Catalogue for the consequences of academic dishonesty.
There will be one announced date for completing missed assignments, without penalty. All requirements of the course must be met in order to receive a final grade for the course.
Date and description of
final examination and due dates for papers.
The date, time, and place of the
final examination are December 9 from
The dates for the submission of required papers are as follows.
First paper:
Second paper:
Third paper:
Fourth paper:
Fifth paper:
Grading scale:
Students will be assigned grades ranging from A+ to F, including letter grades of plus and minus based on the following scale.
A+ 98 TO 100 GRADE POINTS
A 93-97
A- 90-92
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 63-66
D- 60-62
F below 60
TAPING OF CLASSES:
Students must ask permission to tape classes from the professor. If permission is granted, the tapes are for personal use only, and may not be sold or given to others. The tapes are to be erased at the end of the semester.
ABSENCE DUE TO RELIGIOUS
OBSERVANCE:
Students who anticipate the necessity of being absent from class because they intend to observe a major religious holiday should notify the professor in writing by the second meeting of the class.
INCOMPLETE POLICY:
Incompletes will be given at the request of the student and the discretion of the professor in accordance with the policy on incompletes stated in the Undergraduate Catalogue.
CHANGES TO SYLLABUS:
The professor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus as professional judgment dictates.