Philosophy 100W
Syllabus
Spring 2014 (1141)
Dr Mc
Course homepage linked to: www.sfu.ca/~jillmc
This
syllabus is incomplete and subject to revision, though the date of the midterm
is very unlikely to change (and the date of the Final is set by the
University, hence almost guaranteed not to change). You are expected to attend the midterm
and the Final given that the midterm is in class-time and the time of the Final
was available when you registered for this course. If you have any reason to request
accommodation, please email me as soon as possible. (And see our homepage.)
We might move a little more slowly (or maybe even a little more
quickly!) through material than I anticipate. But I can adjust accordingly. Feel free to read a week or two in
advance. Check back for updates
(and hit refresh). It will be most
useful to you to do the readings for each week before the Monday lecture.
My numbering of the weeks doesnÕt
match the UniversityÕs, but I think it is clearer or at least clear
enough. Let me know if you have any
questions.
Week 1: 6-10 January
Lecture:
Introduction:
administrative details; what is Philosophy?; what is a
W-course?; arguments; validity; truth; conditionals; necessary and sufficient
conditions; the standard analysis of knowledge; what is justification; skepticism
Readings:
Required
¤ excerpt from Chapter 2 of Writing Philosophy (hence WP2 for 2nd edition and WP1
for 1st edition) WP2=pp. 21-34.; WP1=pp. 22-36. Either edition is fine. (I do not expect this reading to be done
before the first lecture. But it
should be done right after it!)
¤ DescartesÕ
first two Meditations
Week 2: 13-17 January
Tutorials are on as of 13 January
Lecture:
Local
and global skepticism; DescartesÕ project; a priori and a posteriori; the
cogito, Foundationalism; DescartesÕ Causal argument for God
Readings:
Required
¤ Chapter 1 of WP; the rest of Chapter 2 in WP (if you
havenÕt already read it)
Week 3: 20-24 January
Lecture:
More
on Descartes; skepticism;
Readings:
Required
¤ Chapter 3
of WP (either edition) and Chapter 4 of WP2. If you do not have this edition, you may
borrow a copy from Reserves at the Library.
¤
the Chapter on Using, Quoting, and Citing Sources (WP2
Chapter 7; WP1 Chapter 6)
First paper topic posted by
Friday midnight.
Week 4: 27-31 January
First paper topic discussed
in lecture Monday
Lecture:
More
on Descartes; skepticism; the Gettier problem
Readings:
Required
¤
Gettier
Week 5: 3-7 February
First version of First Paper
due in lecture on Monday
Lecture:
the Gettier problem; The Principles of Non-contradiction and
the Excluded Middle; NozickÕs ÒtrackingÓ analysis of
knowledge;
Readings:
Required
Nozick
Reading Week: 10-14
February.
All classes cancelled
Week 6: 17-21 February
First version of First Paper
returned, with comments, in tutorial
Week 7: 24-28 February
Week 8: 3-7 March
Revised First Paper due in MondayÕs
lecture
Second Paper Topic posted by
Monday midnight, discussed in WednesdayÕs lecture
Week 9: 10-14 March
Revised First Paper returned
in tutorial
Midterm in lecture
on the Monday
Week 10: 17-21 March
First version of Second
Paper due in lecture on Monday
Midterm returned
Week 11: 24-28 March
First version of Second
Paper returned, with comments, in tutorial
Week 12: 31 March- 4
April
Week 13: 7-9 April (short week—classes end on the Wednesday)
Revised version of Second Paper due in MondayÕs lecture.
Final Exam: Wednesday, 16
April, 15.30-18.30 (3:30-6:30pm), Room(s) TBA
Revised version of Second
Paper returned at the Exam
Version of 2013/12/15