PHL 405 9H: Epistemology (3 Credit Hours)

Fall 2014
Tuesdays 5:00-7:30pm in HB 236
Instructor: Dr. Kevin McCain
Office: HB 417
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:50-2:50pm and by appointment
Office Phone Number: (205) 934-8907
Email: mccain@uab.edu
(Email is the best way to contact me.)
Official Course Description:
Human knowledge; its nature, sources, and limits. Concepts of truth, objectivity,
evidence, and belief. Two previous PHL courses or permission of instructor required.
Writing is a significant component of this course (QEP).

Further Course Information:

Epistemology is the study of knowledge and justified belief. In this course we will
critically examine numerous accounts of the nature and sources of knowledge and
justified belief. In addition we will look at epistemological puzzles concerning
skepticism, the problem of induction, and relativism. This course requires some
prior exposure to philosophy and some familiarity with basic philosophical
concepts. Prerequisite: one course in philosophy.

Course Objectives:
-Examination of some of the primary debates in contemporary epistemology
- Development of critical thinking, reading, and writing

Required Texts (the texts can be found in the bookstore or online):

1) Feldman, Richard. Epistemology. Prentice Hall, 2003.
2) Steup, Matthias, John Turri, and Ernest Sosa. Contemporary Debates in
Epistemology 2nd Edition. Wiley-Blackwell, 2005. (Make sure you get the 2nd
Editionmany of the readings in this edition are not available in the 1st
Edition)

Grading:
Class Participation:
14%
7 Short Assignments:
23%
Term Paper (2,000-3,000words) Assignments
Topic question & proposed reading list
1.5%
Thesis & sources
1.5%
1st Draft of Term paper
5%
Comments on peers Paper Drafts
10%
Brief (5min or less) presentation of papers
5%
Final Draft of Term paper
40%
A : 100-90

B : 89-80 C : 79-70 D : 69-60 F : 59-0

NOTE: I round final scores up to the nearest whole number. For example, if your
final grade is an 89.00000001, it will be rounded to 90% (which is an A).

Participation/Classroom Expectations (14% of final grade):

I expect you to be in class, on time, with your homework completed. I believe that
active participation will push your thinking and increase your depth of
understanding; if you are not present you will miss out on both. Both attendance
and participation are necessary for success in this class. Each day there will be 2
points possible for participation1 point for simply being in class on time and 1
point for adequately participating in class discussion. I understand that sometimes
emergencies arise which make attendance impossible, however, if you are not
present, you cannot participate.
In class we will be critically evaluating the views of others, including the views of
those in the class. Given this, papers and class discussion will consist of courteous
and respectful criticism, focusing on the ideas and supporting evidence rather than
making personal attacks. The tone of your papers and comments must always be
respectful and never condescending or belligerent. In so doing we will keep this
class a safe and comfortable atmosphere in which one can test ones ideas.
Further points about classroom expectations:
1) Always bring the relevant book(s)/articles with you to class.
2) Turn off all electronic, hand-held devices during class. Texting, instant
messaging, web surfing, message checking, e-mailing, and all other distractions
to you or the class are not permitted. If you are taking notes on your laptop,
please, no web browsing or game playing.
3) Please stay awake and alert during class.
4) Eating is permitted in class as long as it is not messy and done discreetly, i.e.
without distraction to the rest of the class. If class is held in a computer room, no
food or drink is allowed at all.

7 Short Assignments (23% of final grade):

There will be 11 short assignmentsI will count your top 7 scores.
Many of our readings may be challenging. However, it should be fairly easy to get
the main gist of the reading. Each reading is on a central topic in epistemology and
deserves careful scrutiny. These short assignments push you to be clear about your
reaction to the readings and your sense of what the author has accomplished (or
failed to accomplish). These short assignments are also intended to improve your
ability to write about and explain complicated issues (skills that will be very useful
for the term paper project and beyond this course!).
Short assignments are due on Canvas by 1pm on the day the assignment is
listed. They must be submitted as a Word documentnot a PDF, not a RTF,
not another other document style. So, for instance, the first short paper is due by
1pm on Tuesday, September 2. Late assignments will not be accepted.

Bring a copy of your short assignment with you to class because I may ask
you to share some of what you have written with the class.

Term Paper Assignments:

Topic question & proposed reading list (1.5% of Final Grade)

For this assignment you will simply submit the question(s) you are
planning to explore in your research paper as well as a list of sources
(at least three in addition to those we have covered in classfor a
total of at least 5 sources) you plan to read for your research. I will let
you know whether the topic is appropriate. Of course, feel free to come
by during office hours or set up an appointment to discuss potential
topics.
Due on Canvas by 5pm on Friday, October 31.
Thesis & references (1.5% of Final Grade)
For this assignment you will express the thesis of your term paper in a
single sentencei.e. clearly and concisely. You will want an
interesting thesis that can be adequately defended in a 2,000-3,000
word paper. You will also need to provide a brief summary (a couple
sentences) of each of your sources for your term paper (minimum of 3
that we have not covered in class). You will post your thesis and
sources to a discussion board on Canvas so that your classmates can
read them. Of course, do not feel like you are stuck with your thesis
and sourcesif you change your mind about your thesis or/and decide
that you want to use different sources after posting, that is ok!
Due on Canvas discussion board by 5pm on Friday,
November 7.
1st Draft of Term paper (5% of Final Grade)
For this assignment you will produce a 1st draft of your term paper.
Note, I say 1st draft, not rough draft. What is the difference you
ask? Good question. A rough draft is often the first thing you put on
the pageit can be helpful for getting your thoughts going, but it is not
what you should be sharing with others. At a minimum, you should
proofread your rough draft and revise to eliminate
spelling/grammatical errors and make sure it is at least intelligible to
you. After all, if you cant make sense of something you wrote, it is
very unlikely that someone else will be able to. This assignment will be
posted to a discussion board on Canvas, so you will be able to look at
and comment on others papers.
Due on Canvas discussion board by 5pm on Friday,
November 14.
Comments on peers Paper Drafts (10% of Final Grade)
For this assignment you will comment on the current drafts of at least
2 other students (I will divide you into groups). These comments will
take place during the Peer Review Day (see the schedule). It is worth
keeping in mind that these should not be your 1st drafts, rather they
should be drafts that you have been working on and revising. When

commenting focus on big picture issues firstis the thesis clear? Is the
argument clear? What parts need more support? Does the author
incorporate her/his sources well? What could be improved? After
focusing on big picture issues, you can then give feedback on other
things like spelling, grammar, etc.
Comments will occur during class on the Peer Review Day.

Brief Presentation of Papers (5% of Final Grade)

For our final class meeting you will each give a brief presentation (5
minutes or less) about your paper. You will not need posters or
anything of that sort. All you will have to do is briefly share with the
class the thesis of your paper, the major support that you provide for
your thesis, and answer a few questions from your classmates about
your paper.
Final Draft of Term paper (40% of Final Grade)
This is the final draft of your term paper. It should be revised in light of
the comments that you received. This draft needs to be 2,000 to 3,000
words. If you are over 3,000 words, revise and make things more
concise. If you are under 2,000 words, revise and explain things more
fully.
Due on Canvas by 5pm on Friday, December 5.
Of course, throughout this process if you are having any difficulties, I
encourage you to talk to me and to take advantage of the resources
provided by the University Writing Center located in Sterne Library.
They offer 30-minute writing consultations that are open and free for
all UAB students. They are ready to help at any stage of the writing
process. Here is the web address for the Writing Center:
http://www.uab.edu/writingcenter/

Policy on Late Assignments:

Short assignments will not be accepted if they are late. So, I recommend
turning them in well before the 1pm deadline just in case there is a problem with
Canvas.
Term Paper assignments will be accepted late. However, for every day the paper
assignment is latefor any reasonthere will be a 5% deduction from the
final score (this includes weekends and holidays). Term paper assignments more
than 5 days late will not be accepted. So, I strongly urge you to turn in your
papers on time (or even a little early). Remember, for many of these assignments
your classmates have to wait on you to turn in your assignment before they can
complete theirsdont leave your peers hanging! If you are having problems with
an assignment, I recommend that you come and talk to me well before the
deadline.

Academic Honesty and Plagiarism:

I will fail you for handing in work that is not your own.
I take plagiarism very seriously. If you plagiarize in this class, you will fail the
assignment or class. According to the UAB Academic Honor Code, plagiarism is
defined as claiming as your own work the ideas, words, data, computer programs,
creative compositions, artwork, etc. of others. In this class, plagiarism includes:
failing to properly cite and document words and ideas that are not your own, even
if you do not use a direct quote; copying another persons words or ideas and
presenting them as your own; fabricating citations, quotations, or any other data;
using commercially available papers or papers available from friends, social groups,
or any other non-commercial source and presenting them as your own work; helping
or allowing another student to commit an act of plagiarism; without prior approval
from the instructor, using work substantially done for one class as work done for
another.
If you have any doubt as to whether you might be plagiarizing, see me
before turning in your work. I will be happy to guide you. I reproduce below
relevant sections of the UAB Academic Honor Code.
The UAB Academic Honor Code: UAB expects all members of its academic
community to function according to the highest ethical and professional
standards. Students, faculty, and the administration of the institution must be
involved to ensure this quality of academic conduct. Academic misconduct
undermines the purpose of education. Such behavior is a serious violation of the
trust that must exist among faculty and students for a university to nurture
intellectual growth and development. Academic misconduct can generally be
defined as all acts of dishonesty in an academic or related matter. Academic
dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following categories of behavior:
o ABETTING is helping another student commit an act of academic
dishonesty. Allowing someone to copy your quiz answers or use your
work as their own are examples of abetting.
o CHEATING is the unauthorized use or attempted use of unauthorized
materials, information, study aids, the work of others, or computerrelated information.
o PLAGIARISM means claiming as your own the ideas, words, data,
computer programs, creative compositions, artwork, etc., done by
someone else. Examples include improper citation of referenced works,
the use of commercially available scholarly papers, failure to cite
sourced, or copying another person's ideas.
o FABRICATION means presenting falsified data, citations, or quotations
as genuine.
o MISREPRESENTATION is falsification, alteration, or the misstatement
of the contents of documents, academic work, or other materials
related to academic matters, including work substantially done for one
class as work done for another without receiving prior approval from
the instructor.
All UAB students are expected to be familiar with the UAB Academic honor code, as
well as any honor codes that are specific to their schools or disciplines. The code

represents a commitment to integrity in the academic community and a respect for

an individual's educational endeavors:
I have read and, by choosing to become a member of the UAB academic
community, accept the UAB Academic Honor Code. I understand that
violation of this code will result in penalties as severe as expulsion from the
university. I promise and confirm that I will not, at any time and under any
circumstances, involve myself with abetting, cheating, plagiarism,
fabrication, or misrepresentation while enrolled as a student at the University
of Alabama at Birmingham.

By paying your tuition and returning to this class, you obligate

yourself to follow this code.
Special Accommodations

Please know that this classroom respects and welcomes students of all backgrounds
and abilities, and that I invite you to talk with me about any concern or situation
that affects your ability to complete your academic work successfully.
If you are registered with Disability Support Services, please make an appointment
as soon as possible to discuss accommodations that may be necessary for this
course. If you have a disability but have not yet contacted Disability Support
Services (DSS), please contact them as soon as possible (934-4205) or visit them at
516 Hill University Center. Remember that special accommodations for students
with disabilities are not retroactive. Students must: obtain an accommodation letter
from DSS at the beginning of each semester, hand-deliver that letter to the
instructor, and contact the instructor several days before the accommodation is
required.
Please
see
DSS
FAQs
at:
http://main.uab.edu/Sites/students/services/disability-support/32906/

Schedule:
[Note 1: This schedule is subject to change. So, readings may be moved to a later
date, replaced or removed.]
[Note 2: Readings are due on the day that they are assigned. For example, the first
readings are to be completed before class on Tuesday, September 2 nd.]
[Note 3: Short papers are due by 1pm on the day they are listed.]
[Note 4: Feldman refers to the Feldman textbook; CD refers to the
Contemporary Debates in Epistemology book.]
Week 1
8/26
Introduction
Discussion of: syllabus, short papers, arguments/logic, awesomeness,
etc.

Week 2
Traditional Analysis of Knowledge
9/2
Feldman: Chapters 1-3
Short Assignment 1: In a 200-500 word essay come up with your own
Gettier style example and explain how that example demonstrates that there
is a problem with the traditional analysis of knowledge.
Week 3
9/9
CD: Can Knowledge Be Lucky?
Short Assignment 2: a) In a single sentence present Pritchards thesis, b)
briefly (100 words max) explain Pritchards main support for this thesis, c) in
a single sentence present Hetheringtons thesis, and d) briefly (100 words
max) explain Hetheringtons main support for this thesis.
Week 4
The Regress Argument
9/16
Feldman: Chapter 4
Short Assignment 3: In your own words explain each of the responses to
the Regress Argument that Feldman considers and then explain which you
take to be the strongest position (200-300 words).

Week 5
9/23
CD: Is There Immediate Justification?
Short Assignment 4: Pick one of the primary readings (either Pryors or
Comesaas). For that reading, present the main argument of the reading in
numbered premise form.
Week 6
9/30
CD: Can Belief Be Justified Through Coherence Alone?
Short Assignment 5: Pick one of the primary readings (either Elgins or Van
Cleves). For that reading, present the main argument of the reading in
numbered premise form.
Week 7
10/7
CD: Is Infinitism the Solution to the Regress Argument?
Short Assignment 6: In 500 words, or less, explain Kleins infinitism and
how it is supposed to be a response to the regress argument.
Week 8
Internalism/Externalism
10/14
Feldman: Chapter 5
CD: Is Justification Internal?

Short Assignment 7: Write a short (500 words max) paper on some aspect
of the debate between Greco & Feldman. Be sure you read the Guidelines
for Short Papers below before writing your paper.
Week 9
10/21
CD: Are Intellectually Virtuous Motives Essential to Knowledge?
Short Assignment 8: Pick one of the primary readings (either Baehrs or
Zagzebskis). For that reading, present the main argument of the reading in
numbered premise form.
Week 10
Skepticism
10/28
Feldman: Chapter 6
CD: Can Skepticism Be Refuted?
Short Assignment 9: In 200-500 words explain Vogels response to
skepticism.
Topic Question & Proposed Reading List due on Canvas by 5pm on Friday,
October 31.

Week 11
11/4
Feldman: Chapter 7
CD: Can Evidence Be Permissive?
Short Assignment 10: Write a short (500 words max) paper on some aspect
of the debate between Kelly & White. Be sure you read the Guidelines for
Short Papers below before writing your paper.
Thesis & References due on Canvas discussion board by 5pm on Friday,
November 7.
Week 12
11/11
CD: Do Practical Matters Affect Whether You Know?
Short Assignment 11: Write a short (500 words max) paper on some aspect
of the debate between Fantl/McGrath & Reed. Be sure you read the
Guidelines for Short Papers below before writing your paper.
1st Draft of Term Paper Due on Canvas by 5pm on Friday, November 14.
Week 13

11/18
Peer Review Day: Bring 2 Hardcopies of your paper to class
Week 14
11/25No class THANKSGIVING BREAK
Week 15
12/2
Brief Presentations
Final Draft of Term Paper due on Canvas by 5pm on Friday, December
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Guidelines for Short Papers

1. Find in the reading a philosophical claim, or a line of reasoning, that interests
you. It should play some significant role in the reading. It need not be the main
thesis, but it should not be just an incidental remark in the reading. Your
discussion will have as its theme either giving support for the truth of the claim,
or for the soundness of the argument, or for denying the truth of the claim or the
arguments soundness.
2. Do not attempt to describe the broad significance of the reading that you are
discussing, or its topic, in the history of human thought, or the significance of its
topic to philosophy in general. Do not make any other sweeping historical
assessment.
3. At the beginning of your paper, provide a brief introductory description of what
the paper is supposed to accomplish. For instance, tell the reader that you are
going to offer a new reason to accept a premise in the readings argument for
such-and-such conclusion, or that you are going to argue against the truth of
such-and-such, which is the main thesis of section 3 of the reading.

4. Before making your main point, explain the role in the discussed reading of the
claim, or the reasoning, that is your topic. Is it the main thesis of the reading? Is
it the target of objections there? Something else? Use quotes, or close
paraphrases, (properly attributed with page references in either case) to
substantiate your claim about the role of your topic in the reading discussed.
5. Clearly present your main point. For instance, give your own argument in
support of the claim in the paper that is your topic, and make clear its premises
and conclusion and why they are worthy of belief. Or give your counterexample
to the claim in the paper that is your topic, and explain how is shows us that the
claim is untrue. Whatever sort of point you make, describe examples to help us
to see the point.
6. Present the strongest objection that you can think of to your own point. That is,
give the best basis you can think of for someone to argue that your point is
mistaken.
7. Reply to that objection with your best defense of your point. For instance, argue
that the objection employs a doubtful assumption and explain something
doubtful about it.
8. Conclude with a brief summary of what your paper has tried to accomplish. This
may largely repeat your introductory description of what the paper would do, but
it can have differences that reflect the familiarity that the reader will have with
your discussion. For instance, if you use an example involving a pineapple, then
you can say in your concluding summary something like, As my pineapple
example illustrates, .
Short papers will be graded as follows:

A = Excellent, clear statement of the claim/reasoning that is your focus and

clear, insightful discussion of the reading.
B = Good, reasonably clear statement of the claim/reasoning that is your
focus and good discussion of the reading that demonstrates at least a solid
grasp of the issue.
C = Adequate, a statement of the claim/reasoning that is your focus and a
decent discussion of the reading.
D = Poor, manifests significant misunderstanding and reveals lack of serious
effort.

Grading Criteria for Term Papers:

A papers: Have a clear, interesting thesis, a well-structured argument, consider
and adequately respond to the strongest objection to the papers argument,
appropriate and well-explained evidence, clear language and syntax, and correct
citations.
B papers: Have a clear, interesting thesis, an argument that supports the thesis,
consider and responds to an objection to the papers argument, and evidence that

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is pretty clearly connected, but may still have some parts that are unclear. Have
only minor problems with language and syntax.
C papers: Have a thesis, but it is not especially clear or interesting. The argument
is not all that clear and has some minor structural problems. An objection is
considered, but either it is weak or the response to the objection is
unclear/unconvincing. Supporting evidence is present, but not completely
explained. Have moderate problems with language and syntax, which make the
paper unclear in places.
D papers: Have a thesis that is not clear and/or not an answer to an interesting,
debatable question. Argument is unclear and an appropriate objection to the
argument is either not considered or poorly presented and responded to.
Supporting evidence is not explained. Have major problems with language and
syntax.
F papers: Have no identifiable thesis or argument.

Watch this helpful video about writing philosophy papers before you
write your paper:
Andrew Cullisons (SUNY-Fredonia) Writing a Short Philosophy
Paper:
http://www.andrewcullison.com/2011/09/writing-a-short-philosophy-paper/

I also strongly suggest that you take a look at this before you write
any of your papers (short or term):
Jim Pryors (NYU) Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper:
http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/writing.html

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