PHIL
111 LARKIN:
Spring 2003
I.
Instructor Information
A.
Name: Dr. William S. Larkin
B.
Office: Peck Hall 2207
C.
Office Hours: TR 1:00-2:00 PM, and by appointment
D.
Office Phone: 650-2643
E.
E-Mail: wlarkin@siue.edu
II.
Course Description
The primary objective of this course is to introduce
students to some of the problems, methods, and figures of western
philosophy. We will consider problems
from all four of the major sub-divisions of philosophy—metaphysics,
epistemology, ethics, and logic. We
will consider such philosophical methods as Socratic dialectic, rational
argumentation, skeptical doubt, thought experiment, reflective equilibrium, and
conceptual analysis. And we will
consider the work of figures from different historical periods—ancient, modern,
and contemporary. An over-arching theme
of the course will be an examination of different philosophical views about the
nature of philosophy itself. The
secondary objective of the course is to promote various critical thinking
habits and analytical reasoning skills.
A.
RENTAL:
1. Plato, Euthyphro,
Apology, Crito
2. Descartes, Meditations on
First Philosophy
3. Ayer, Language, Truth,
and Logic
B.
PURCHASE:
1. Searle, Minds, Brains,
and Science
IV.
Course Requirements
1. Reading Journals (20%): There will be reading
questions given out for each week’s readings.
The objective of these questions is to promote active reading,
understanding, and participation in class discussion. Students will type up their answers to these questions and keep
them in a specially designated folder (a reading journal). These folders will be collected 2-4 times
over the course of the semester at random intervals and graded mainly on the
basis of effort. The cumulative score
on the reading journals will be worth 20% of the semester grade.
2. Three Tests (20%/ea.): There will
be three non-cumulative in-class tests.
Each test will involve a combination of multiple choice, short answer,
and essay questions. Each test will be
worth 20% of the semester grade.
3. Final Exam (20%): There will be a cumulative
final exam with the same basic format as the three tests. The final exam will be held in PH 2412 on
Monday, May 5th from 8:00 to 9:40 AM. The final exam will be worth 20% of the semester grade.
V.
Expectations
Genuine learning requires
two-way communication. Students are not
merely empty vessels waiting to be filled up with information—they come to this
course with various backgrounds, beliefs, skills and talents. My goal is (1) to incorporate some new
concepts, ideas, and perspectives into students’ pre-existing knowledge base,
and (2) to help students acquire and hone certain critical thinking habits and
argumentative skills. It is expected
that you will help facilitate this process by taking an active role in your own
learning process. Only with your active
participation can genuine learning occur, and only genuine learning will insure
success in the course.
I expect you to take an
active role in class by taking notes, participating in discussion, asking
questions, and providing feedback on how you are doing and how you think the
class is going. No behavior that
manifests a lack of respect for others or their learning objectives will be
tolerated. It is absolutely crucial
that everyone feel comfortable stating and defending his or her own views.
I expect you to take an
active role outside of class by keeping up on the assigned readings, completing
the assigned reading questions, reviewing notes, and coming to see me in office
hours whenever a question or problem arises.
I also want to encourage you to get together with fellow students to
discuss the material in the course and perhaps read related material that we
will not be covering. I am more than
willing to help with either of those projects in any way I can.
No kind or degree of academic dishonesty (i.e.,
cheating or plagiarism) will be tolerated.
Any such behavior on any assignment will certainly result in failing
that assignment, will probably result in failing the course, and may require
more drastic measures through official channels.
VII.
Weekly Schedule
I.
Plato / Value Theory
Week One: “The Apolgy”
Week Two: “Euthyphro”
Week Three: “Crito”
Week Four: “Phaedo”
TEST #1
II.
Descartes / Epistemology and
Metaphysics
Week Five: “Meditation One”
Week Six: “Meditation Two”
Week Seven: “Meditation Three”
Week Eight: Free Will
Week Nine: The Mind-Body Problem
Week Ten: TEST
#2
III.
Ayer / Logic, Language, and
the Nature of Philosophy
Week Eleven: “The Elimination of Metaphysics”
Week Twelve: “The Function of Philosophy”
NO
CLASS: Thursday, April 10th
IV.
Searle / Minds, Machines and
the Relationship between Philosophy and Science
Week Thirteen: “Can Computers Think?”
Week Fourteen: TEST #3
Week Fifteen: Final Summary and Review