Philosophy 313/Theory of Knowledge Princeton University Spring 2005 MW 12:30-1:20, Mccosh 66

Philosophy 313/Theory of Knowledge Princeton University Spring 2005 MW 12:30-1:20, McCosh 66

Professor Thomas Kelly 209 Marx Hall [email protected] Office Hours: H 2-3:30 and by appt.

Preceptor: John Maier [email protected] Office Hours: TBA

There are four required texts for the class:

(i) Richard Feldman, Epistemology. (ii) Peter Lipton, Inference to the Best Explanation. (‘IBE’ below). *This is the recently-released 2nd edition of this book.* (iii) C.A.J. Coady, Testimony: A Philosophical Study. (iv) A Course Reader.

Each of the four is available from the U-Store.

Prerequisites: Some previous experience with philosophy is expected. (This class is not suitable as an introduction to the subject.)

Requirements: Approximately 45 pages of difficult reading per week (sometimes more, sometimes fewer). Attendance at weekly preceptorials is also required. Evaluation will be based on the following:

A 5-7 page paper due on 3/9: 25% of final grade. A 5-7 page paper due on 4/27: 30% of final grade. A comprehensive final examination: 35% of final grade. Precept participation: 10% of final grade. 2

Class Schedule (subject to change at the Professor’s discretion):

Introduction

1. Monday, 1/31. Course Overview

The Traditional Analysis of Knowledge

2. Wednesday, 2/2. (1) Feldman, Epistemology, Chapter 1, “Epistemological Questions”.

(2) Feldman, Epistemology, Chapter 2, “The Traditional Analysis of Knowledge”.

(3) [Recommended: James Pryor, “What’s So Bad About Living in the Matrix”, Sections I and II only. Available on the web at: http://whatisthematrix.warnerbros.com/rl_cmp/new_phil_fr_pryor.html]

3. Monday, 2/7. (1) Gettier, “Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?”, pp.1-2 in the Course Reader.

(2) Feldman, Epistemology, Chapter 3, “Modifying the Traditional Analysis of Knowledge”.

The Ethics of Belief

4. Wednesday, 2/9. (1) William James “The Will to Believe”, pp.4-19 in the Course Reader.

(2) Feldman, Epistemology, Chapter 4, “Evidentialist Theories of Knowledge and Justification”, pp.39-49. (That is: you should read the section entitled “Evidentialism”).

5. Monday, 2/14. (1) George Mavrodes, “Intellectual Morality in Clifford and James”, pp.20-27 in the Course Reader.

(2) [Recommended: James Pryor, “What’s So Bad About Living in the Matrix?” Sections I, III, and IV. Available on the web at: http://whatisthematrix.warnerbros.com/rl_cmp/new_phil_fr_pryor.html] 3

The Infinite Regress Argument; Foundationalism and Coherentism

6. Wednesday, 2/16. (1) Feldman, Epistemology, Chapter 4, “Evidentialist Theories of Knowledge and Justification”, pp.49-80 only.

7. Monday, 2/21. No New Reading.

What is a ‘proof’? What would it take to prove (disprove) God’s existence?

8. Wednesday, 2/23. (1) George Mavrodes, “Proofs of God’s Existence”, pp.28-45 in the Course Reader.

Externalism

9. Monday, 2/28. (1) Feldman, Epistemology, Chapter 5, “Nonevidentialist Theories of Knowledge and Justification” pp.81-86; 90-99 only. (That is, you should read the sections entitled “The Causal Theory” and “Reliabilism”.)

10. Wednesday, 3/2. Continued

Skepticism about Knowledge of the External World

11. Monday, 3/7. (1) Feldman, Epistemology, Chapter Six, “Skepticism (I)”.

12. Wednesday, 3/9. *First papers due*

(1) Feldman, Epistemology, Chapter Seven, “Skepticism (II)”, pp.141-156 only. (That is, you should read the section entitled “Ordinary-Standards Skepticism and Best Explanations” and the appendix on Contextualism.)

Monday, 3/14. No Class (Spring Break) Wednesday, 3/16. No Class (Spring Break) 4

Induction and Inference to the Best Explanation

13. Monday, 3/21. (1) Feldman, Epistemology, Chapter 7, “Skepticism (II)”, pp.130-143 only (“The Problem of Induction”).

14. Wednesday, 3/23. (1) Lipton, IBE, “Preface to the first edition” (first two paragraphs only) and “Introduction”.

(2) Lipton, IBE, Chapter 1, “Induction”.

15. Monday, 3/28. (1) Lipton, IBE, Chapter 2, “Explanation”.

(2) Lipton, IBE, Chapter 3, “The Causal Model”, pp.30-37 only (‘Fact and Foil’).

16. Wednesday, 3/30. (1) Lipton, IBE, Chapter 4, “Inference to the Best Explanation”

(2) Lipton, IBE, Chapter 10, “Prediction and Prejudice”, pp.164- 168 only (‘The Puzzle’)

(3) [Optional: The remainder of chapter 10]

17. Monday, 4/4. (1) Lipton, IBE, Chapter 9, “Loveliness and Truth”.

18. Wednesday, 4/6. (1) Lipton, IBE, Chapter 11, “Truth and Explanation”.

Relativism and Disagreement

19. Monday, 4/11. (1) George Sher, “But I Could Be Wrong”, pp.46-53 in the Course Reader.

(2) Feldman, Epistemology, Chapter 7, “Epistemological Relativism”, pp.177-190. 5

Testimony

20. Wednesday, 4/13. (1) Coady, Testimony, Chapter 1, “The Domain of Testimony”.

(2) Coady, Testimony, Chapter 3, “Objections and Clarifications”, pp. 69-75 only (The discussion of morality and testimony.)

(3) [Optional: Coady, Testimony, Chapter 2, “What is Testimony?”].

21. Monday, 4/18. (1) David Hume, “Of Miracles” pp. 55-64 in the Course Packet.

22. Wednesday, 4/20. (1) Coady, Testimony, Chapter 4, “Testimony, Observation, and the Reductive Approach”.

23. Monday, 4/25. (1) Coady, Testimony, Chapter 10, “Astonishing Reports”.

24. Wednesday, 4/27. *Second Papers Due*

(1) Coady, Testimony, Chapter 11, “The Disappearance of History”.