Theory of Knowledge Philosophy 220 Scott Hall room 115 M/W – 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Course Instructor: Angela Harper Office: 215A, 3 Seminary Place (CAC) Office Hours: By Appointment Email: [email protected]
I. Course Description “Philosophy examines the fundamental assumptions we make about ourselves and the world we inhabit and tries to determine whether those assumptions are rationally defensible.” -Elliott Sober
The purpose of philosophy is “to substitute articulate hesitation for inarticulate certainty.” -Bertrand Russell
With this in mind, this is a course in Epistemology. Epistemology is the theory of knowledge, and philosophers in this area explore questions like: What is the difference between true belief and knowledge? What is the extent of our knowledge? Can I know that I have hands? Can I know that I am not in the Matrix? How do we know what we know? Is knowledge valuable?
First and foremost, I encourage you to think for yourself. This does not mean that I do not expect philosophical rigor. By the end of the course you should be able to precisely formulate your own ideas and arguments, as well as the arguments that we encounter in the assigned material. I strongly advise you to attend every class and PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM. I cannot emphasize this enough. Part of being engaged in the material is clearing up confusion as it arises, so if you have a question (even a question that you think is “stupid”), ask it! The material that this class covers is difficult, so it is likely that you will have questions even when you’ve read the material several times. Furthermore, all readings will be announced in class, so if you do not attend you will not know the material for which you are responsible. Lastly, if you put in the work and the effort, I will do my best to make this class fun.
II. Text Required Text: (available at Rutgers University Bookstore) Epistemology: An Anthology: Ed. by Ernest Sosa, Jaegwon Kim, Jeremy Fantl, and Matthew McGrath; Second Edition
All other readings will be given out in class or posted on Sakai.
III. Assignments and Grading 5% - Pop Quizzes - I will give at least 6 pop quizzes during the semester to test that you are carefully reading the assigned material. 20% - Reading Responses - You will write 4 brief reading responses (no more than 375 words, about 1 page single-spaced) stating: (1) the author’s argument and (2) what you think is the best response to this argument. These responses will be submitted online via Sakai, and must be submitted before the reading is discussed in class. So for instance, if you want to discuss a paper that we are reading for a Wednesday session, you must submit your response by 1 p.m. on that Wednesday. At least 2 reading responses must be completed before March 10. 20% - Paper - In addition to the reading responses, you will be asked to write a mid-length paper (no more than 5 pages long) on a topic that will be announced in class. 25% - Midterm Exam - Wednesday, March 10,, in class. 30% - Final Exam - Tuesday, May 11, noon to 3 p.m.
Important Dates Monday, March 8: NO CLASS Wednesday, March 10: MIDTERM EXAM Monday, March 15 & Wednesday, March 17: NO CLASS (SPRING BREAK) Wednesday, May 5: NO CLASS (Reading Day) Tuesday, May 11: FINAL EXAM (noon – 3 p.m.)
Academic Integrity You are all obligated to abide by the Rutgers Policy on Academic Integrity, which can be found at http://ctaar.rutgers.edu/integrity/policy.html. This includes, but is not limited to, your obligation not to copy material off the Internet or from other students, and not to collaborate illicitly. I will not tolerate cheating! Any student caught cheating will receive an automatic F for the course and be reported to the dean. No exceptions!
Course Schedule: (List of Topics & Readings) It has been my experience that the classes that are most successful are those that allow students to set the pace. For this reason, I have set out a list of topics and the order I’d like to cover them, but I have not listed dates (aside from the first three weeks). If it t akes us the whole semester to cover one topic, so be it!
All readings will be announced in class, the session BEFORE they are to be read. Unless otherwise noted, all readings are taken from the text listed above.
I. SKEPTICISM ABOUT THE EXTERNAL WORLD
(1) The Skeptical Problem Week One Wednesday, January 20: INTRODUCTION (no readings)
Week Two Monday, January 25: Excerpt from Appearance, Reality, and Knowledge by Acquaintance, Bertrand Russell (handout) Extra Readings: Locke and Berkeley on Sakai Wednesday, January 27: Meditation I, Descartes (handout) Skepticism: A Contemporary Reader, De Rose (handout)
(2) The First Premise of the Traditional Skeptical Argument: Week Three Monday, February 1: “The Problem of the External World”, Barry Stroud Wednesday, February 3: “Certainty”, G.E. Moore
The articles below are listed by topic in the order that we will (possibly) cover them (I have avoided setting explicit dates as I’d like us to have some flexibility).
“Four Forms of Skepticism”, G.E. Moore Excerpts from Locke (handout) Meditation II-VI, Descartes (handout) “Proof of an External World”, G.E. Moore “An Argument for Skepticism”, Peter Unger (handout) “Brains in a Vat”, Hilary Putnam (handout)
(3) The Second Premise of the Traditional Skeptical Argument: “Epistemic Operators”, Fred Dretske “Relevant Alternatives and Deductive Closure”, Gail Stine
II. THE ANALYSIS OF KNOWLEDGE
“Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?” Ed Gettier “A Causal Theory of Knowing”, Alvin Goldman “What Is Justified Belief?” Alvin Goldman “Knowledge and Skepticism”, Robert Nozick “Internalism Defended”, Richard Feldman and Earl Conee