University of Tennessee Knoxville Philosophy 107 Sections 005, 006, 007, 008 Introduction to Philosophy (Honors) Fall 2013

9:40-10:55 T/Th 11:10-12:25 T/Th 2:10-3:25 T/Th 3:40-4:55 T/Th Instructor Dr. Margaret E. Moore mmoor114@utk.edu Office: 813 McClung Tower Office hours: T/Th 12:30-1:30 and by appointment Course Description and Learning Objectives This course will focus primarily on two philosophical questions that are both perennial and timely. The first concerns knowledge: what sorts of things can human beings know, what conditions must be met for information to count as knowledge, what methods of inquiry lead to knowledge, what are the limitations of human knowledge? The second concerns value: what makes a human life worth living, what endeavors are worth pursuing and why, what is the connection between a good life for a human and the systems of values found in religion and philosophical ethics? These questions will touch on issues in metaphysics (the nature of the external world), applied ethics, and the philosophy of mind (free will, the mind/body problem) as well as epistemology, ethical theory, and existentialism. We will examine these questions both as they arose in classic texts in the history of philosophy (e.g. Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Berkeley) and as they are discussed by contemporary philosophers (Singer, Wolf, Churchland, among others). In the process of studying the aforementioned philosophical questions, you will also be developing philosophical skills. The study and practice of philosophy requires highly developed critical reading, writing, and thinking abilities, and this course is designed to help you improve in these areas. These skills will not be merely of benefit in philosophy classes, but in any intellectual endeavor that you pursue.

Policies, Requirements, and Evaluation Classroom Courtesy: Please be courteous to your fellow students and avoid unnecessary disruptions. Arrive on time, leave on time, and turn off your cell phone during class. Technology in the Classroom:

Laptops, ipads, ipods, cell phones, and other electronic communications devices inhibit discussion and limit participation, and therefore are not to be used in class. Exceptions to this policy may be considered on an individual basis, but abuse of these exceptions (checking e-mail, social networking, texting, etc.) during class time is prohibited. Academic Integrity: The definitions of cheating and plagiarism contained in Academic Standards of Conduct for the University of Tennessee (http://www.lib.utk.edu/instruction/plagiarism/) will apply to all written work submitted in this course. All incidents of plagiarism will be reported to the Dean of Students. It is your responsibility to make sure you understand what plagiarism is. Plagiarism is a serious case of cheating, and will result in automatic failure of the course. Any use of material without proper acknowledgment is plagiarism (e.g., anything from paraphrasing without acknowledgement via citations to verbatim copying of larger sections of text). Please be especially careful about acknowledging every web-based source you use in a written assignment. Other instances of cheating will also result in automatic failure of the course (e.g., cheating on an exam, handing in a paper written by someone else, handing in the same paper for more than one course, etc.).

Grading Scale: Your final grade will depend on the percentage you earn of the total points possible in the class: A: 93-100; A-: 90-92; B+: 88-89; B: 83-87; B-: 80-82; C+: 78-79; C: 73-77; C-: 70-72; D: 60-69; F: 59 and below. Attendance, Preparation, and Participation: It is required that you come to each class having prepared by reading the assigned text thoroughly. YOU MUST BRING A COPY OF THE TEXT WITH YOU TO CLASS! You will be expected to be able to discuss significant points in each reading, and formulate questions about the text and/or the philosophical issues it addresses. You may not always understand the text thoroughly, but if you have worked your way through the assignment carefully, and are able to explain what you find confusing, this consists of adequate preparation. In order to help you understand some of the more challenging reading assignments, questions will be made available to you ahead of time on Blackboard. Participation and attendance comprise 10% of your final grade, but preparation for class will have a greater effect on your grade than just this formal component. Those students who regularly attend class and participate based on a thorough understanding of the reading material are those who are best prepared to do well on the examination and paper assignments.

Resources for Studying Philosophy Philosophy is difficult, at all levels, even for the very brightest students. The issues and readings selected for this course are appropriate starting points for those with no background in philosophy, but this does not mean that they are easy. You should expect to read assigned materials very slowly, more than once, in order to adequately grasp the

authors argument. You will often encounter concepts and vocabulary that are new to you. In order to help you manage these challenges, I have posted some helpful links in the Course Materials section of Blackboard. In addition, the Philosophy Department's website (philosophy.utk.edu) and Blackboard site (online.utk.edu; access restricted to current majors) have helpful resources for those studying philosophy. They also contain information about our degree programs and about opportunities for undergraduates, including our scholarships, essay contest, and philosophy club. All of these are open to students not in a philosophy degree program!

Assignments: The assignments for this course will consist of two exams and three short writing assignments. Grading: The short assignments will be worth 30% of your grade (10 % each), the exams will each be worth 30% of your grade. The remaining 10% of your grade will consist of attendance and daily participation. Your participation grade is determined by the quality of your participation more than just mere quantity. This means that you need to demonstrate in class that you have understood and thought about the reading materials, and are thinking about the discussion in class. Contribution can include insightful questions. One way to start is to come to class with a list of questions about the text (including requests for clarification concerning points/paragraphs you found difficult or unclear).

Short assignments: Students will write three 2-3 page (maximum!) papers/assignments presenting an issue or argument found in the reading assignments. The focus of these papers will be on writing and analyzing philosophical argumentsthey are NOT research papers. Papers will be graded for accuracy in presenting the philosophical ideas of others, coherence and logic in the presenting of original philosophical ideas and arguments and the critique of the arguments of others, as well as writing skills including structure, organization and mechanics. Detailed guidance on these points will be provided on Blackboard.

Paper Submissions: Papers must be submitted through SafeAssign on Blackboard. Standard formatting (oneinch margins, double-spaced, twelve-point Times New Roman font) is required. Papers displaying enlarged fonts, line spacing, and page margins are unacceptable. The use of outside sources is strongly discouraged. However, where appropriate, references should be noted parenthetically in the text (accompanied by a full bibliographic entry on a works cited page) or with full bibliographic citations in footnotes. Extensions will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Late papers will be marked down 10% for every 24 hours after the due date.

Exams: The exams will be a combination of essay and short answer questions. In order to do well on these exams, you must thoroughly understand the assigned reading material and be able to write about it clearly (many students find this challenging). In order to help you prepare, you will be given sample essay questions in advance. You must take the exams at the scheduled times. No makeup exams will be given, except in extraordinary circumstances. Such circumstances must be documented.

**ASSIGNED READINGS are all available on Blackboard under Course Materials**

Recommended Texts Cahn, Steven M. (ed.) Philosophy for the 21st Century: A Comprehensive Reader. Oxford University Press, 2002. (ISBN-10: 0195147928 / ISBN-13: 9780195147926 ) Plato. Republic. G. M. A. Grube (trans); revised by C. D. C. Reeve. Hackett Publishing: 1992. (ISBN-10: 0872201368 / ISBN-13: 978-0872201361) Plato, The Trial and Death of Socrates. Cooper, John M. (ed.); G. M. A. Grube (trans.). Hackett, 2001. (ISBN-10: 0872205541 / ISBN-13: 978-0872205543 )

Special Accommodations Students with disabilities that require special class or exam accommodations must present a form from the university specifying the details as soon as possible. Course Reading Schedule (***subject to minor changes***) Date Thu, Aug 22 Tue, Aug 27 Thu, Aug 29 Tue, Sep 3 Thu, Sep 5 Tue, Sep 10 Thu, Sep 12 Tue, Sep 17 Thu, Sep 19 Tue, Sep 24 Thu, Sep 26 Tue, Oct 1 Readings Introduction Suggested reading: Bertrand Russell: The Value of Philosophy Introduction of logical arguments Plato: Apology Introduction to logical arguments continued Plato: Euthyphro Plato: Euthyphro Plato: Republic (selections TBA) First assignment due Descartes: First Meditation Descartes: Meditations (continued); Elizabeth of Bohemia (correspondence with Descartes) George Berkeley: Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous George Berkeley: Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous Edmund Gettier: Is Justified True Belief Knowledge? Linda Zagzebski: The Inescapability of Gettier Problems J. J. C. Smart: Sensations and Brain Processes (recommended reading: B. F. Skinner: The Causes of Behavior) Second writing assignment due Frank Jackson: Epiphenomenal Qualia (recommended reading: Paul Churchland: Jacksons Knowledge Argument) Patricia Churchland The Hornswoggle Problem Exam 1 5

Thu, Oct 3

Tue, Oct 8 Thu, Oct 10

Tue, Oct 15 Thu, Oct 17 Tue, Oct 22 Thu, Oct 24 Tue, Oct 29 Thu, Oct 31

William James: The Will to Believe Fall Break James Rachels: Egoism and Moral Skepticism Suggested reading: Friedrich Nietzsche On the Genealogy of Morality J.L. Mackie: The Subjectivity of Values Ronald Dworkin: A Critique of Mackie James Rachels: The Challenge of Cultural Relativism Suggested reading: Anthony Appiah: Cosmopolitanism (selections)

Date Tue, Nov 5 Thu, Nov 7 Tue, Nov 12 Thu, Nov 14 Tue, Nov 19 Thu, Nov 21 Tue, Nov 26 Tue, Dec 3

Readings Martha Nussbaum, "Judging Other Cultures: The Case of Genital Mutilation" A. J. Ayer: Freedom and Necessity Peter Singer: Living Ethically Suggested reading: John Stuart Mill: Utilitarianism Peter Singer: Living to Some Purpose Camus: The Myth of Sisyphus Nagel: The Absurd Wolf: Meaning in Life and Why it Matters Suggested reading: Sartre: Existentialism is a Humanism Exam 2 Third writing assignment due