KNOWLEDGE AND REALITY
 
 

PROFESSOR: HUD HUDSON
OFFICE: BOND HALL 302A
PHONE: 650-3865
OFFICE HOURS: MWF 1:00-2:00

COURSE: PHILOSOPHY 114 / FALL QUARTER 2009
CRN: 41221
LOCATION: BH 317
TIME: MWF 3:00-3:50

 

REQUIRED TEXT
 
 

 Taylor, Richard Metaphysics  4th Edition  (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1992).


 

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND REQUIREMENTS
 
 

This course is an introduction to some of the traditional issues in Metaphysics and Epistemology.  During this term we will discuss problems concerning the mind/body relation, the compatibility of free will and determinism, space and time, substances and causation, skepticism, justified belief, and the nature of knowledge.

Reading assignments are listed in the course outline below.  Students should attend each meeting of the course ready to discuss the assigned reading material.

There will be two essay examinations.  The midterm will be given in class on Monday, October 26.  The final will be according to the final exam schedule on Wednesday, December 9 (3:30-5:30).  A week before each exam, I will distribute a list of questions, and the exam will consist of some (but not all) of the questions appearing on that list.  Each exam will be "closed-book" and will be worth one-half of the final grade for the course.
 
 

COURSE OUTLINE
 
 

09/23 Introduction to Epistemology and Metaphysics
   
09/25 Mind and Body  (Metaphysics  Chapters 2-4)
09/28 No Class
09/30  
10/02  
10/05  
   
10/07 Freedom and Determinism  (Metaphysics  Chapter 5)
10/09  
10/12  
10/14  
   
10/16 Fate  (Metaphysics  Chapter 6)
10/19  
10/21  
   
10/23 Review For Midterm Exam
   
10/26 Midterm Exam 
   
10/28 Space and Time  (Metaphysics  Chapters 7-9)
10/30  
11/02  
   
11/04 Causation  (Metaphysics  Chapter 10)
11/06  
11/09  
11/11 No Class
11/13  
   
11/16 Justified Belief (No Assigned Readings)
11/18  
11/20  
11/23  
11/30 No Class
12/02  
   
12/04 Review For Final Exam
   
12/09 Final Exam -- Wednesday, Dec 9 (3:30-5:30)