---Ernie says, "Knowledge? What knowledge?"
Philosophy 420
Fall 2015, Michael F. Goodman
Humboldt State University
MWF 9am-9:50am, BSS 204
August:
24: Introduction: Contemporary Epistemology
>b>September:
02: Goldman: "A Causal Theory of Knowing" (p. 3)
October:
02: Lloyd continued...
21: Quine: "Two Dogmas of Empiricism" (p. 125)
November:
02: Malcolm continued...
11: Veteran's Day, no class
13: David continued...
December:
02: Rescher continued...
14-18: Finals Week
15: Research Paper due, 10am in BSS 502B.
26: Introduction: The Conditions for Knowledge
28: Gettier: "Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?" (p. 1)
31: Gettier continued...
04: Goldman continued...
07: Labor Day, campus closed.
09: Lehrer: Knowledge, Truth and Evidence" (p. 13)
11: Lehrer continued...
14: Alston: "Concepts of Epistemic Justification" (p. 17)
16: Alston continued...
18: James: "The Will to Believe" (p. 35)
21: James continued...
23: Rorty: "Pragmatism, Relativism, and Irrationalism" (p. 47)
25: Rorty continued... - - - - - {1st Weekend Question}
23: Alston: "Two Types of Foundationalism" (p. 57)
28: Alston continued...
30: Lloyd: "The Man of Reason..." (p. 69)
05: Bonjour: "Structure of Empirical Knowledge" (p. 77)
07: Bonjour continued...
07: Alcoff: "Real Knowing..." (p. 91)
09: Alcoff continued...
12: Ayer: "The A Priori" (p. 115)
14: Ayer continued...
23: Quine continued...
26: Ayer: "Skepticism and Certainty" (p. 139)
28: Ayer continued...
30: Malcolm: "Two Types of Knowledge" (p. 149)
04: Haack: "The Pragmatist Theory of Truth" (p. 157)
06: Haack continued... --- {2nd Weekend Question}
09: David: "Truth as Correspondence" (p. 171)
16: Quine: "On What There Is" (p. 183)
18: Quine continued...
20: Research on term paper; no class
23: Thanksgiving Break; no class
25: Thanksgiving Break; no class
27: Thanksgiving Break; no class
30: Rescher: "On Explaining Existence" (p. 205)
04: Nozick: "Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing?" (p. 225)
07: Nozick continued...
09: Personhood (no readings)
11: Personhood continued...
1) Read carefully the material due for each class period, before class. Pick out the arguments and objections/criticisms in each reading. These will be our primary focus. Primary questions: What conclusion is the author attempting to get us to accept? What does the author mean by what he/she is saying? How does the author know that what he/she is saying is true?
2) Attend class every day.
3) Participate in class discussions. It doesn't matter whether you carry the weight of the discussions on your shoulders or not; and it doesn't matter whether you win or lose the argument (for those who think in those terms). What matters is that you learn a great deal from spending 3 hours each week with me and your friends discussing the readings we'll do in epistemology and metaphysics.
4) Quizzes. There will be a quiz on most Fridays, each worth 10 points. These quizzes will be a combination of essay, true/false, fill in the blank, multiple choice, and so on. The one lowest quiz score will be dropped. There are no make-ups on quizzes.
5) Weekend Questions. There will be two "weekend questions." These will be essay questions, will be distributed on a Friday, and will be due the next Monday, in class, in hard copy. eMail submissions of work is unacceptable. Each Weekend Question will count for 50 points. Late work will, of course, be accepted, but will draw the result of one full grade reduction per calendar day.
6) Term Paper. A term paper is due on Tuesday, 15 December 2015, 10am in BSS 502B. A reasonable length might be around 7-10 pages, typed, double spaced, with one-inch margins all around. Please consult with me on the topic (though it is strictly up to you) well in advance of writing. This is a research paper and research outside the readings for the class is required. At least two outside sources are required. At most, one internet source is allowable. Also, consulting "Editing Notation" (see link below) can be of some assistance to you as you write. Formatting of footnotes/endnotes: please refer to The Chicago Manual of Style (in reference section in Library). Also, you will find it useful to read the writing guidelines I have established for this class. See the link below. The paper will count for 100 points. As with the Weekend Questions, late turn-ins of the paper will be accepted, but will draw the result of one full grade reduction per calendar day.
7) Academic honesty. It is the student's responsibility to know policy regarding academic honesty. For more information, go to the HSU catalog.
8) Students with Disabilities. Persons who wish to request disability-related accommodations should contact the Student Disability Resource Center in House 71, 826-4678 or 826-5392. Some accommodations may take several weeks to arrange.
9) Attendance & disruptive behavior. It is the student's responsibility to know the policy regarding attendance and disruptive behavior. For more information, go to the HSU catalog. As to this class, attendance is required and disruptive behavior will yield a prompt and decisive response from me. 10) Cell phone & texting policy. You are welcome to have your cell phone turned on during class. Please set it on "stun" in case you get a call. If you get a call in class that you must answer, please leave class to take the call. Text messaging while in class, during class time, is prohibited.
11) Format. The format of this course is lecture/discussion and is a required course for the Philosophy major.
12) Learning outcomes. The following are the learning outcomes for this course, approved by the Department of Philosophy in 2008: a) Students will learn to define concepts and use traditional vocabulary of philosophy; b) Students will increase the ability to use the logical methods of analysis and to critically assess philosophical arguments; c) Students will learn to apply methods of philosophy to specific issues and problems; d) Students will increase the ability to read and analyze philosophical writing.
13) Late work. Late work will be acceptable on all assignments except quizzes. There will be a 10% reduction of grade for each day the assignment is late. Example: If the assignment is due in class, then it is one day late if it is not turned in in class. If turned in the next day, it is 2 days late, and so on.
14) Grade breakdown: 100-93 = A, 92-90 = A, 89-87 = B+, 86-83 = B, 82-80 = B, 79-77 = C+, 76-73 = C, 72-70 = C, 69-67 = D+, 66-63 = D, 62-00 = F. I do not grade on a curve. Hence, you will not be competing with your classmates for a grade.
Office hours:
Office/Phones/eMail:
Note important dates: Double-Check all dates with HSU Calendar
Catalog description of PHL 420: "What exists? What are the basic categories of being? What does it mean to know? Are there different kinds or sources of knowing? Recommended preparation: PHL 100." Possibly Useful Links:
