Phil 1000

Introduction: Survey of Philosophy

Fall 2008
T &Th 2:00 - 3:20PM, MBH 112


Bryan Benham, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Lecturer
Department of Philosophy
CTIHB, Room 443
801-581-7302
bryan.benham@philosophy.utah.edu

hum.utah.edu/~bbenham

*Office Hours by Appointment


“We question all our beliefs except for the ones we really believe, and those we never think to question.”

--- Orson Scott Card

Course Objectives

The aim of this course is to familiarize students with a number of fundamental philosophical problems and the methods of philosophical analysis and evaluation.  Readings will include both historical and contemporary sources.  This course will focus on questions about God, knowledge, mind, freedom and ethics.  Emphasis will be given to a critical but open-minded approach to these basic questions.  The ultimate goal is to assist the student in better understanding these philosophical issues and how they continue to shape the student's worldview and day to day activities.

Required Textbooks

  • Joel Feinberg and Russ Shafer-Landau, editors. Reason and Responsibility: Readings in Some Basic Problems of Philosophy . 13 th ed. (0-495-09492-7)
  • Additional course content will be available on the web (readings, videos, websites, etc.) via the course syllabus/schedule. Students will be expected to access this information in a timely manner.

 

Grading Distribution

  • 75% Exams – There are three in-class exams scheduled for this course (2 midterms and a final) worth 25% each.   They will cover the readings, discussion and other assignments.  The exams consist of two parts: the first part is an objective section that asks factual, definitional, or historical questions; the other is a short essay section that asks conceptual questions which normally require two essays.  A selection of essay questions will be provided prior to the exam.  Bluebooks will be required for each exam.   See course schedule for dates: Sept. 25, Nov. 6, and Dec. 17.   NO EARLY OR MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE OFFERED, except in cases of extreme medical emergency.
  • 15% Reading Questions – Students are expected and required to read the assigned reading prior to the scheduled class meeting.  Each reading will also have assigned reading questions.  Reading questions are linked to the course schedule below.   Answers to the reading questions are to be typed and turned in during class on the day assigned (see course schedule).  NO LATE, HANDWRITTEN OR E-MAILED SUBMISIONS OF READING QUESTIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.  These are graded on a credit/no credit basis.  The reading questions are intended as an aid for the student in understanding unfamiliar and often complicated material.
  • 10% Philosophy News Journal – In an effort connect the course materials with events outside the classroom, the student will be required to collect a journal of news clippings relevant to the topics covered in the course.  The journals will consist of at least one recent article for each major theme discussed in the course (i.e., God, Knowledge, Mind, Freedom and Ethics) and will be accompanied by a short written component.  News journals will be due on the last day of class (see course schedule). NO LATE NEWS JOURNALS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
    • Articles must come from reliable news sources.  This includes newspapers or national news magazines dated no earlier than five years ago.  Examples of reliable news sources include local newspapers (e.g., Salt Lake Tribune or Desert News), national newspapers (e.g., Washington Post, New York Times, etc.), national news magazines (e.g., Newsweek, Time, etc.) or the equivalent websites (this includes CNN, MSNBC, BBC etc.).  Examples of unacceptable sources include, but are not limited to, personal websites, published papers in journals, book reviews, encyclopedia articles, obituaries, product advertisements or other sources that might be considered unreliable as a national or public news source.
    • For each news article the student is required to write a brief one or two page essay consisting of three parts: (1) a brief summary of the news article, (2) a description of how the news event relates to a specific reading or topic discussed in class, and (3) a brief critical response by the student regarding the philosophical implications of the news event or the student's own critical views on the subject.
    • The articles and essay should be collected and stapled or bound together.  No three-ring binders please.

 

Course Policies

  • General

    Students are expected to conform to all norms of an academic course. This includes being willing to engage in the topic matter in a serious and respectful manner; to take appropriate measures to achieve all requirements of the course; being up to date on course materials and changes to the syllabus; and to contribute to the content of the course in a constructive manner; as well as other expectations.

  • Academic Misconduct

    Academic misconduct, which includes cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty, will not be tolerated in this course and will be dealt with severely. If caught cheating or plagiarizing, student will receive a failing grade for the course and be reported to the University administration for possible further sanction. Students are responsible for knowing and understanding the University's policy on academic misconduct. More information is in the Student Code, available at http://www.sa.utah.edu/code/.

  • Assistance with writing or researching

    Tutoring is available through the ASUU Tutoring Center in the Student Services Building, Room 330. Students may schedule a day, evening or weekend appointment.   Students who qualify for a Pell Grant may also qualify for free tutoring.   For more information call 581-5153 or go to http://www.sa.utah.edu/Tutoring/.

    Writing Center located at the Marriott Library.   More information can be found by going to http://www.writingcenter.utah.edu/.

  • (ADA) Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

    The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities.   If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD).   CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services. For more information go to http://disability.utah.edu/.

  • Accommodations policy

    All of the course content, reading assignments, films, assignments, and other teaching materials have been chosen in order to achieve the pedagogical objectives of this course. Some of the writings, lectures, films, or presentations in this course may include material that conflicts with the core beliefs of some students. Please review the syllabus carefully to see if the course is one that you are committed to taking. We will not make content accommodations in this course. http://www.admin.utah.edu/facdev/index.html

     

Additional Online Resources

Websites of Interest:

 

Some Reliable News Outlets:

  • New York Times
  • Los Angeles Times
  • BBC
  • CNN
 


Course Schedule

This schedule is subject to revision as per the needs of the course. 

All revisions will be posted on the course website.  The student is responsible for any changes.  


Date
Topic
Assignments
Aug. 26
LOGIC

In-class assignment

Lecture 1 (pdf)

Aug. 28
LOGIC

Handout: A Little Bit of Logic (pdf)

Lecture 2 (pdf)

Assignment 1: Find an argument in a reliable news source, put the argument in standard form and then evaluate it using the criteria discussed in class.


   
Sept. 2
GOD: Cosmological Argument

Aquinas , p. 21 (Recommended: Clarke, p. 22)

Lecture 3 (pdf)

READING QUESTIONS 1: GOD (pdf)


Sept. 4 GOD: Cosmological Argument

Rowe, p. 23

Lecture 4 (pdf)



   
Sept. 9
 GOD: Teleological Argument

Paley , p. 32

Lecture 5 (pdf)


Sept. 11
 GOD: Teleological Argument

Hume , p. 38 (Parts II & V only)

Lecture 6 (pdf)




 
Sept. 16
GOD: Problem of Evil

Doestoevsky, p. 72 and Mackie, p. 78 (Recommended: Swineburne, p. 89)

Lecture 7 (pdf)


Sept. 18
GOD: Faith and Reason

Clifford, p. 101 and Clark, p. 114

Lecture 8 (pdf)




 
Sept. 23
 GOD: Evil and Faith
 In-class Video: "Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero"

Website for video: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/faith/

Marriott Library: HV 6432.7 F 36 2002 (VHS; Multi-Media Center)


In-class assignment (Don't Miss)


Sept. 25
Midterm 1

Study Guide for Midterm #1 (pdf)

 


 
Sept. 30
KNOWLEDGE: Problem of Skepticism

Pollock, p. 137 (for fun) and Unger, p. 139 \

Lecture 9 (pdf)

READING QUESTIONS 2: Knowledge & God (pdf)

 

Oct. 2
 KNOWLEDGE: Descartes’ Answer

Descartes , pp. 164-173 (Meditations I & II )

Lecture 10 (pdf)




 
Oct. 7
 KNOWLEDGE:  Problem of Induction

Hume , p. 219-228 (Sections II & IV ) (Recommended: Salmon, p. 245.)

Lecture 11 (pdf)


Oct. 9
KNOWLEDGE: Science

Kitcher , p.268 (Recommended: Popper, p. 264)

Lecture 12 (pdf)




 
Oct. 13-17
 Fall Break

No Meeting


   
Oct. 21
MIND: Other Minds & Animal Minds

*Russell (pdf); and *Descartes (pdf)

Lecture 13 (pdf)

 
Oct. 23
MIND: Other Minds & Animal Minds

Searle, p. 356 (Recommended for Fun: *Allen, pdf)

Lecture 14 (pdf)

 



 
Oct. 28
MIND: Thinking Machines

Lycan , p. 342 (Recommended: Turing, p. 321)

Lecture 15 (pdf)

Oct. 30
MIND: Thinking Machines

Searle , p. 330

Lecture 16 (pdf)


   
Nov. 4
 MIND: Other Minds & Animal Minds

Possible Video: "Animal Consciousness"

Class cancelled due to illness (Prof. Benham has no voice).

Prove you have a mind: VOTE !


Nov. 6
Midterm 2

Study Guide for Midterm 2 (pdf)


 
Nov. 11
FREEDOM: Challenge of Determinism

Holbach, p. 458

Lecture 17 (pdf)

READING QUESTIONS 3: Freedom and Ethics (pdf)

Nov. 13
FREEDOM: Soft Determinism

Stace, p. 419

Lecture 18 (pdf)




 
Nov. 18
FREEDOM: Libertarianism

Chisholm, p. 438

Professor Sick


Nov. 20
FREEDOM: Determinism & Responsibility

Pereboom, p. 464

Lecture 19/20 (pdf)



 
Nov. 25
ETHICS: Morality & Relativism

Benedict: Morality is Relative (pdf)

NOTE – Reading Questions for Benedict Reading: Answer the questions at the end of the article.

Lecture 21 (pdf)

 

Nov. 27
Thanksgiving Break No Meeting

   
Dec. 2
ETHICS: Morality & Objectivism

Rachels: Morality is not Relative (pdf)

Lecture 22 (pdf)

Dec. 4
ETHICS: God & Morality

Quinn , p. 610

Lecture 23 (pdf)

Philosophy Club Movie Night: GATTACA

! ! Pizza, Popcorn, Soda, and other goodies ! !

Tanner Library, Department of Philosophy
CTIHB, 4th Floor
5:00-7:30PM


   
Dec. 9
ETHICS: Utilitarianism

Mill, p. 640

Lecture 24 (pdf)

Dec. 11
ETHICS: Social Contract

Rawls, p. 600

Lecture 25 (pdf)

Dec. 12
News Journals Due

Due by noon in Prof. Benham's office/mailbox CTIHB, 4th floor.

 
Dec. 17
(Wed.)
Final    1:00-3:00 PM

Study Guide forExam #3: Final (pdf)

Reminder: Bluebooks are required for the exam!