Course Description

Philosophy 114

Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality

Ned Markosian

Department of Philosophy

Western Washington University

Winter 2009

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The aim of this course is to introduce students to philosophy by considering four central philosophical problems: (i) the problem of skepticism, (ii) the mind-body problem, (iii) the problem of freedom and determinism, and (iv) the problem of the nature and existence of God. In our discussions of these problems our focus will be on careful formulations of specific theses and arguments.

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Course Requirements

· Regular attendance

· Midterm Exam (worth 45% of final grade)

· Final Exam (worth 55% of final grade)

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Text

Metaphysics (4th Edition), by Richard Taylor (Prentice-Hall, 1992). Available at the Western Associated Students Bookstore, The College Store, and Amazon.

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Exams

There will be two exams for this course. For each exam, the format will be the same: I will post about five essay questions on the web site approximately one week before the exam, and on the day of the exam, I will choose one of those questions, which you will then have to answer. The exam questions will be designed to test (i) your knowledge of certain very specific theses and arguments we will have discussed in class, (ii) your ability to explain those theses and arguments, and (iii) your ability to evaluate those theses and arguments.

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Rescheduled Exams and Missed Exams

In rare cases a student might be permitted to reschedule an exam, provided that he or she has a legitimate reason to do so and makes arrangements with me prior to the originally scheduled time for the exam. A student who misses an exam without making arrangements in advance to reschedule the exam will receive a zero on that exam.

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