22:   Introduction: Contemporary Epistemology
24:   Introduction: The Conditions for Knowledge
26:   Gettier, p. 131ff [C]
29:   Gettier continued. . .
31:   Goldman, p 133ff {C}

   September:

02:   Goldman continued. . . {quiz}
05:   Labor Day -- No class
07:   Goldman continued. . .
09:   Lehrer, p. 143ff {quiz}[C]
12:   Lehrer continued. . .
14:   Alston, p. 177ff [C]
16:   Alston continued. . . {quiz}
19:   Alston continued. . .
21:   Rorty, p. 217ff [C]
23:   Rorty continued. . . {quiz}
26:   Rorty continued. . .
28:   Lloyd, p. 292ff [C]
30:   Lloyd continued. . . {Weekend Question}

   October:

03:   Lloyd continued. . . [Weekend answers due in class]
05:   Ayer, "The A Priori", p. 532ff
07:   Ayer continued. . .[quiz}
10:   Quine, "Two Dogmas. . .", p. 554ff [C]
12:   Quine continued. . .
14:   Quine continued. . . {quiz}
17:   Ayer, "Quest for Certainty", p. 38ff [C]
19:   Ayer continued. . .
21:   Ayer continued. . . {quiz}
24:   Malcolm, p. 63ff [C]
26:   Malcolm continued. . .
28:   Kim, p. 467ff [C] {quiz}
31:   Kim continued. . .

   November:

02:   Anderson, p. 498ff [C]
04:   Anderson continued. . . [Weekend Question}
07:   Anderson continued. . . [Weekend answers due in class]
09:   Quine, "On what There Is," [Packet of readings]
11:   Veteran's Day, no class
14:   Quine continued. . .
16:   Quine continued. . .
18:   Rescher, [Packet of readings] {quiz}
21:   Thanksgiving Break, no class
23:   Thanksgiving Break, no class
25:   Thanksgiving Break, no class
28:   Rescher continued. . .
30:   David, [Packet of readings]

   December:

02:   David continued. . . {quiz}
05:   David continued. . .
07:   Personhood, no readings
09:   Personhood continued. . . {quiz}
12-16: Finals Week
14:   Research Paper due, 10am in BSS 502B.

Course Requirements and Some Other Things:

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 Wednesday, 14 December 2011, 10am in BSS 502B. A reasonable length might be around 8-12 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 and grade. The format of this course is lecture/discussion and is a required course for the Philosophy major. The minimum satisfactory grade in this course for fulfilling the requirement for the major is C.

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:
Monday & Wednesday: 10-11am
Tuesday & Thursday: 9:30-10:45am
Also by appointment.

Office & Phones...
Office location: Behavioral & Social Sciences Building 502B
Phones: 826-5758; 822-6659 (home)
eMail: mfg1@humboldt.edu

Note important dates:
Last day to declare Credit/No Credit option: 17 October 2011
Last day to drop without signatures & serious/compelling reason: 19 September 2011
Last day to drop with serious and compelling reason: 31 October 2011

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:
   Editing Notation:    Click
   Writing Guidelines:    Click
   The Logic Page:    Click
   Analytic Philosophy Readings:    Click

Possibly useful journals online:
Mind: http://www3.oup.co.uk/mind/
Australasian Journal of Philosophy: http://www.ajp.aap.org.au/
British Journal of Aesthetics: www3.oup.co.uk/aesthj/
British Journal for Philosophy of Science: www3.oup.co.uk/phisci/
Journal of Philosophy: http://www.jstor.org/journals/jphil.html
History of Philosophy: http://philosophy.wisc.edu/jhp/
Noûs: http://www.jstor.org/journals/00294624.html
Philosophical Quarterly: http://www.jstor.org/journals/00318094.html
Philosophical Review: http://www.jstor.org/journals/00318108.html
Philosophy & Phenomenological Research: www.jstor.org/journals/00318205.html

All required and recommended texts can be found in the section for this course in the HSU Bookstore.

      
How many cubes are there?
Can there be six and seven?
How is the first question epistemological?
How is the second metaphysical, ontological, and/or logical?