Larkin                                                                                                                                                                Fall 2003

 

PHIL 330: Metaphysics

 

 

I.                   Course Information

A.     Number: PHIL 330.001

B.     Time: TR 2:00-3:15 PM

C.     Room: PH 2409

D.     Instructor: William S. Larkin

E.      Office: PH 2207

F.      Office Hours: TR 1-2 PM, and by appointment

G.     E-Mail: wlarkin@siue.edu

H.     Office Phone: 650-2643

 

II.                Course Description

The primary objective of the course is to provide students the motive, means, and opportunity to rationally reflect on the nature of persons and their place in nature.  To this end we will explore the dialectical landscape of four perennial problems in metaphysics—the Cosmological Problem, the Mind-Body Problem, the Problem of Free Will, and the Problem of Personal Identity.  We will explicate these problems as specific instances of the more general metaphysical problem of reconciling the manifest common sense image of persons with the emerging theoretical scientific image.  The secondary objective of the course is to provide students strategies for and practice at interpreting, evaluating, and constructing argumentative essays.

 

III.             Course Requirements

A.     Reading Summaries

There will be eight readings over the course of the semester for which I will provide questions designed to encourage an active reading of the texts.  On Tuesdays, I will accept summaries of the reading assigned for that week.  These summaries should be 2-3 double-spaced, typewritten pages, and should lay out the author’s main points and arguments as well as provide some critical analysis of the reading.

 

Each of the eight reading summaries will be worth 5 points for a total of 40 points:

            5 = Complete, on time, and carefully written

            4 = Complete and on time

            3 = Incomplete but on time

            2 = Complete but (not more than) one class period late

            1 = Incomplete and (not more than) one class period late

 

B.     Writing Projects

There will be two writing projects over the course of the semester, for which I will provide possible topics.  The first paper will be due during week eight, and the second paper will be due during the last week of classes.  Final drafts of papers should be 6-8 double-spaced, typewritten pages, and should survey the dialectical landscape of an issue (of manageable size) related to the course material and defend a specific thesis regarding that issue.

 

Each of the two paper projects will be worth 30 points for a total of 60 points:    

            5 pts: Thesis proposal discussed with professor

            10 pts.: Formal outline

            15 pts.: Acceptable draft

a.       Carefully written and edited (5 pts.)

b.       Clear and explicit structure (5 pts.)

c.       Compelling Content (5 pts.)

 

C.     Semester Grade

The semester grade will be determined by the total number of points earned on the Reading Summaries and Writing Projects as follows:

            90-100 = A

            70-89 = B

            50-69 = C

            0-49 = F

           

 

IV.              Texts

A.     Purchase Text:

(F) Owen Flanagan, The Problem of the Soul

 

B.     Course Packet (CP): Photocopies available from instructor during first week of class.

 

 

V.                 Expectations

Genuine learning requires active participation and 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 in class 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 views.  Outside of class you are expected to keep up on the assigned readings, complete the assigned reading questions, review notes, and 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 to 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.

 

 

VI.              Academic Dishonesty

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:

 

Week

Reading Assignment

Topic

1

Syllabus

CP: Dennett, “Tell Me Why”

Critical Thinking

Arguments for and against the Existence of God

 

2

CP: Dennett, “Universal Acid”

F: Chapter One, “Human Being”

Dasein and Dharma

 

 

3

F: Chapter Two, “The Human Image”

The Manifest vs. the Scientific Image

 

 

4

CP: Nozick, “Why is There Something Rather Than Nothing?” (pp. 115-140)

The Cosmological Problem

 

 

5

CP: Nozick, “Why is There Something Rather Than Nothing?” (pp. 140-164)

The Limits of Thought

 

 

6

F: Chapter Three, “Mind”

Cartesianism vs. Mind Science

 

 

7

CP: Kim, “The Mind-Body Problem…”, secs. I-III

Physicalism

 

 

8

CP: Kim, “The Mind-Body Problem…”, secs. III-VI

Reductionism

 

 

9

F: Chapter Four, “Free Will”

Free Will vs. Determinism

 

 

10

CP: Chisholm, “Human Freedom and the Self”

Agent Causation

 

 

11

F: Chapter Five, “Permanent Persons”

Self, Soul, and God

 

 

12

CP: Olson, “Psychology and Personal Identity”

The Psychological vs. The Biological Approach

 

13

CP: Olson, “Why We Need Not Accept the Psychological Approach” 

Intuitions, Prudential Concern, and Moral Responsibility

 

14

CP: Olson, “Are People Animals?”

Coincidence, Personhood, and Why We are Animals

 

15

F: Chapter Six, “Natural Selves”

Buddhism and Narrative Selves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHIL 330:

Metaphysics

 

 

Course Packet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prof. William S. Larkin

Philosophy Department

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

wlarkin@siue.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHIL 330: Metaphysics

Course Packet

Larkin

Fall 2003

_____________________________

 

 

 

 Contents

 

 

1.      Dennett, Daniel.  “Tell Me Why”, from Darwin’s Dangerous Idea

 

2.      Dennett, Daniel.  “Universal Acid”, from Darwin’s Dangerous Idea

 

3.      Nozick, Robert.  “Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing?”, from Philosophical Explanations

 

4.      Kim, Jaegwon.  “The Mind-Body Problem: Taking Stock After 40 Years”

 

5.      Chisholm, Roderick. “Human Freedom and the Self”

 

6.      Olson, Eric.  “Psychology and Personal Identity”, from The Human Animal

 

7.      Olson, Eric.  “Why We Need Not Accept the Psychological Approach”, from The Human Animal

 

8.      Olson, Eric.  “Are People Animals?”, from The Human Animal