PHIL 450: Advanced Epistemology and Metaphysics

OFFICE HOURS: TR 12:20-1:50 p.m.

PHILOSOPHY DEPT.: Sierra Tower, Room 522, 677-2757

TEXT: Material Constitution: A Reader Michael Rea (ed.), Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 1997

DESCRIPTION:

Imagine calling on a friend to collect a debt and receiving the following argument:

A human being is just a collection of particles. But if you add particles to or subtract particles from a collection of particles, you get a new collection. This debt was contracted several weeks ago, and many of the particles that composed the person who contracted the debt have long since passed into the environment. So I am a different collection of particles from the one that contracted the debt. Thus, I am a different human being from the one who contracted the debt. Therefore, I do not owe you any money.

This line of reasoning is flawed. It can’t be that easy to escape a debt. But how is it flawed? What false assumption or illegitimate inference is the debtor making? The answer is not immediately clear. We shall try to be clear about matters like this.

1. Class Participation ........... 20 %
2. First Paper ....................... 30 %
3. Second Paper .................. 50 %

There will be no final examination.

Pluses and minuses will be used with the letter grades.

Mere attendance does not count as class participation. Saying something publicly in class does not automatically count as class participation. Your class participation will be judged for quality as well as for quantity. To count as high in quality, your class participation has to make a highly positive contribution to the class discussion.

Class participation will be graded on a curve, but not the papers. Preliminary drafts for the papers will not be required but strongly encouraged.

The last day to change your academic program without a formal request is Friday, September 12, 2008 After that date, withdrawals will require additional approvals and can only be obtained for “serious and compelling reasons” and when “there is no viable alternative." See Late Change of Schedule at http://www.csun.edu/anr/soc/adjsched.html.

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SCHEDULE
(Subject to Change)
August

• 26 ..... Introduction
• 28 ..... Wiggins, “On Being in the Same Place at the Same Time”

September

• 02 ..... Wiggins continued
• 04 ..... Doepke, “Spatially Coinciding Objects”
• 09 ..... Doepke continued
• 11 ..... Doepke continued
• 16 ..... Thomson, “Parthood and Identity Across Time”
• 18 ..... Thomson continued
• 23 ..... Thomson continued
• 25 ..... Johnston, “Constitution is Not Identity”
• 30 ..... Johnston continued

October

• 02 ..... Johnston continued
• 07 ..... Sosa, “Subjects Among Other Things”
• 09 ..... Sosa continued
• 14 ..... Sosa continued, First Paper Assignment Handed Out
• 16 ..... Wrapping Up First Half of Semester
• 21 ..... First Paper Assignment Due, Gibbard, “Contingent Identity”
• 23 ..... Gibbard continued
• 28 ..... Gibbard continued
• 30 ..... Gibbard continued

November

• 04 ..... Lewis, “Counterparts or Double Lives?”
• 06 ..... Lewis continued
• 11 ..... Veterans' Day: No Class
• 13 ..... Lewis continued
• 18 ..... Geach, “Reference and Generality”
• 20 ..... Geach, continued
• 25 ..... Review, Second Paper Assignment Handed Out
• 27 ..... Thanksgiving: No Class

December

• 02 ..... Discussion of Second Paper Assignment
• 04 ..... Discussion of Second Paper Assignment continued
• 09 ..... Discussion of Second Paper Assignment continued
• 11 ..... Second Paper Due in Instructor's Office

Every part of the Schedule is subject to change throughout the semester. We shall adjust the schedule as we proceed. Any schedule change will be announced in class, and you are responsible for being aware of it. You are responsible for reading the scheduled article prior to each class meeting and are expected to come to class fully prepared to participate in the class discussion.

Updated on May 5, 2008

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