Philosophy 38: Experience and Reality
Summer Session I 2003; Section 1: Dey Hall 402
Monday thru Friday
Instructor: Ted Parent
Email: tparent@email.unc.edu
Phone: 962-3329
Office: Caldwell Hall 210B
Office Hours: Monday and Friday
Course Website: http://www.unc.edu/~tparent/phil38.html
This course is an introduction to the formal study of metaphysics, as well as the related discipline of epistemology. Metaphysics typically asks questions about what exists, the nature of particular things, and the nature of reality in general. Epistemology is interested in how our beliefs about objective reality might be justified, or how they might constitute knowledge, given that such beliefs are formed around subjective experience. As an introductory course, I take it as our goal to read the original texts of (arguably) the most influential and insightful philosophers who have written on these issues: Descartes, Hume, Kant, and Quine.
Texts:
Descartes, René. Meditations on First Philosophy, 3rd
ed. trans. Donald Cress; Hackett 1993.
Hume, David. Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding;
Hackett, 1977.
Kant, Immanuel. Prolegomena to any Future Metaphysics,
trans. Carus/Ellington; Hackett 1977.
Coursepack (available from Student Stores)
Course Assignments:
(1) Every Thursday, there will be an in-class writing assignment (about
a paragraph in length) on the readings for that day. Satisfactory performance
on these assignments is a requirement for the course, which means that unsatsifactory performance can lower your final grade.
However, exemplary performance on these assignments can also act as
“extra credit” to boost your final grade.
(2) Argument analysis (no minimum length; maximum length is 6 pages) due June
4 worth 35% of the final grade.
(3) Argument reconstruction (no minimum length; maximum length is 3 pages) due June
17 worth 25% of the final grade.
(4) Comprehensive final exam on June 23 worth 40% of the final grade.
No late assignments accepted. If you are unwilling to abide by this policy,
please drop the course.
N.B. Excellent or poor participation/attendance will also affect your final grade. In extreme cases, poor attendance will result in an automatic ‘F’ for the course, regardless of your performance on the assignments.
Tentative Schedule
May 20
Introductory Session.
May 21 Descartes, Meditation
1
May 22 Descartes, Meditation
2
May 23 Descartes, Meditation
2 (cont’)
May 26 NO CLASS
(Memorial Day)
May 27 Hume, Of the Origin
of Ideas, Of the Association of Ideas
May 28 Hume, Sceptical
Doubts concerning the Operations of the Understanding
May 29 Hume, Sceptical
Solution of these Doubts
May 30 Hume, Of Personal
Identity, Appendix , sections 10-21 (both from the Treatise of Human
Nature)
Jun
2 Hume,
Of Miracles
Jun 3
Hume, Of a Particular Providence and of a Future
State
Jun 4
Kant, Preface
Analysis
due: June 4
Jun 5
Kant, Preamble
Jun 6
Kant, First Part: How is Pure Mathematics
Possible?
Jun 9
Kant, Second Part: How is Pure Natural Science Possible?
Jun 10 Kant, Second
Part (cont')
Jun 11 Kant, Third
Part: How is Metaphysics in General Possible?
Jun 12 Kant, Third
Part (cont')
Jun 13 Kant, Conclusion: On the
Determination of the Bounds of Pure Reason;
Solution of the
General Question of the Prolegomena
Jun 16 Quine, Two Dogmas of Empiricism
Jun 17 Quine,
Two Dogmas (cont’)
Reconstruction due: Jun 17
Jun 18 Quine,
Two Dogmas (cont')
Jun 19 Quine,
Epistemology Naturalized
Jun 20 Quine,
Epistemology Naturalized (cont')
Final Exam on Jun 23 from 8am to
Honor code:
The Chancellor has asked faculty to include the following statement in all
course syllabi.
“The Honor Code prohibits lying,
cheating or stealing when these actions involve academic processes or University,
student or academic personnel acting in an official capacity. The Campus
Code requires students to conduct themselves in such ways as not to impair the
welfare or the educational opportunities of others in the University
community. As a UNC student, you have accepted a commitment to the Honor
Code and the Campus Code, and the principles of academic integrity, personal
honesty, and responsible citizenship on which they were founded more than 100
years ago.
Academic dishonesty in any form is unacceptable, because it circumvents the
purpose of the University's life and work. As a faculty member, I have a
responsibility to report any possible Honor Code violations to the Student
Attorney General. I trust that you will join me in supporting the Honor
Code by signing the Honor Pledge on all written work, and by consulting me if
you are uncertain about your responsibilities within this course.”