Philosophy 310: Theory of Knowledge 1

Fall 2010 TR 12:00-1:15, ES 80 Professor Dennis Whitcomb

Course Description

This course is an introduction to a number of central issues in epistemology: the nature of knowledge, skeptical arguments and standard responses, justification, internalism and externalism, and epistemic architecture. We will also work on your writing.

Contemporary Debates in Epistemology, ed. Matthias Steup and Ernest Sosa. Course Pack, available at the campus bookstore

Office Hours

Wednesday 8:00-11:00, and by appointment

Grading

The grade is determined by a midterm paper, a final paper, and attendance. The midterm paper is due in two drafts, each worth 20% of the course grade. The final paper is due in only one draft, which is worth 50% of the course grade. The remaining 10% of the grade comes from attendance and participation.

The midterm’s first draft must be at least 1000 words long, and its final draft must be 2000-4000 words long. The final paper must be 3000-4000 words long. There will be handouts with more information about these papers.

For extra credit you can do a writing assignment (available on blackboard). This assignment should take you at least as long as the midterm paper does. In order to get any extra credit at all, you must do the whole assignment, producing decent attempted answers each of its exercises. If you complete all the exercises, then I’ll add up to ten percentage points to your course grade, depending on how good your answers are.

Policy on late work

See the daily schedule for all the due dates (and times). If a paper is turned in after its due date (and time), there is a 20% penalty. For each 24-hour period after that, there is another 20% penalty. The same goes for the extra credit assignment. This policy may be waived if you have a verifiable medical or comparable emergency. Schedule (Days marked with asterisks have particularly difficult readings; plan ahead)

Sept 23: Introduction to the course

1. Knowledge

Sept 28: Gettier (course pack) and Handouts 1-5 (course pack).

Sept 30: Zagzebski (course pack).

*Oct 5: Williamson (course pack).

Oct 7: Discussion and review.

2. Skepticism

Oct 12: Klein (course pack).

*Oct 14: Nozick (course pack).

Oct 19: Conee and Cohen (CDE 47-71).

Oct 21: Discussion and review.

3. Writing

Oct 26: Handout t 6 (course pack) and Philosophy Revision Guide (course pack).

Oct 28: Group work on midterm drafts. Midterm first draft due at the beginning of class. (Bring two copies, one for me to grade and the other to use in group work.)

Nov 2: Group work on midterm drafts. (Bring your latest draft.) Midterm paper due in my box by 5:00 pm.

5. Justification

Nov 4: Goldman (course pack).

Nov 9: Conee and Feldman (course pack).

Nov 11: No class

Nov 16: Greco and Feldman (CDE 257-284).

Nov 18: Discussion. Extra credit due in my box by 5:00 pm. 6. Epistemic architecture

Nov 23: Audi (course pack).

Nov 25. No class.

Nov 30. Pryor (CDE 181-201).

Dec 2. Discussion.

The final paper is due in my box Wednesday December 8th by 10:00 a.m..