Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2015 - PHIL 100W D100

Knowledge and Reality (3)

Class Number: 3719

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 13, 2015: Mon, Wed, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 22, 2015
    Wed, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to some of the central problems of philosophy. Topics to be discussed include the different theories of reality; the nature and sources of knowledge, truth, evidence, and reason; the justification of belief and knowledge about the universe. These topics and problems will be considered as they arise in the context of issues such as: relativism versus absolutism; the existence of God; personal identity; the nature of the mind and its relation to the body; free will and determinism; the possibility of moral knowledge. Open to all students. Students with credit for PHIL 100 may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

It must seem to you at this moment that you are reading a course outline.  But are you really?  Are you sure?  Perhaps you are having a (slightly odd) dream.  What about other beliefs you have—are they true?  For example, you probably believe you have a brain in your skull and that other people do, too.  Is that belief identical to a state of that brain?  Or are beliefs non-physical?  Could something that lacks a brain like ours have beliefs?  What if you are a brain in a vat wired up so as to have experiences as though you were a normal human?  You would have (be?) a brain, but you wouldn’t even have a skull.  What if what you think of as other people are all figments of your imagination and you are the only thing that exists?

This course is an introduction to philosophy, focussing primarily on issues in epistemology and metaphysics (that is, those concerning knowledge and reality respectively).  Questions likely to be discussed include some of the following: What is knowledge?  Do we have knowledge of the external world, and, if so, how do we get it?  What is the mind?  What is the relationship between the mind and the body?

The course is designed with two broad goals in mind.  One, it will give you a chance to consider some interesting philosophical issues.  These issues are central to an exploration of the human condition, and everyone should have an opportunity to reflect on them.  Two, it will provide you with an opportunity to improve your critical reading, writing, and thinking skills, thereby helping you with almost any intellectual endeavour in which you subsequently choose to engage.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

PHIL 100W may be applied towards the Certificate in Liberal Arts, the Writing Requirement and the Breadth-Humanities Requirement.

Grading

  • Participation 20%
  • In-class midterm 10%
  • Two Papers: 15% and 25% 40%
  • Final Exam 30%

REQUIREMENTS:

Students will be required to submit written work to turnitin.com for plagiarism-checking and also, possibly, for anonymous peer review or as the basis for class discussion.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

i>clicker

* As you may know, i>clickers can be used in different classes.  If you already have one, don’t buy another.  If you don't already have one, buy one knowing that you can use it in other courses, or just borrow one if you can bring it to every lecture.  I>clicker 1 is fine for this course, as I ask only multiple-choice questions.  Later versions, such as i>clicker 2 are also fine, but Web-clicker is not.  Details available in early in the term.  Bring your clicker to the very first lecture if you have it, but don’t fret about having one or registering it (until Week 2).

REQUIRED READING:

Writing Philosophy: A Guide for Canadian Students, 2nd edition. Lewis Vaughn and Jillian Scott McIntosh, Oxford University Press, 2013.  (ISBN 978-0-19-544674-6) 

Once term is underway, many of the required readings will be available on-line (password-protected, so only for registered students) via the class website.  This is much cheaper for you than a hardcopy anthology, though (i) you don’t get a cool hefty book for your shelf, (ii) you don’t get to flip through fascinating but unassigned articles, and (iii) you must exercise due diligence in accessing the readings and (preferably) printing them up.  If you would like to buy a good hardcopy anthology, I can advise, but I cannot guarantee that all readings would be from it.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS