Philosophy 200
Critical Reasoning
Tues/Thurs 2:00-3:15 pm
Fall 2006
Dr. Bonnie Paller bonnie.pal= ler@csun.edu
ST 533
677-2757 (Philosophy Dept.)
677-2746 (Office)
Office Hours: Tues/Thurs 1:00= -2:00; 3:15-4:00, and tba
Texts:
Schick and Vaughan, (2005), <= u>How to Think About Weird Things, 4rd ed.
Steve Layman, (2005), The = Power of Logic, Primus ed.
This semester Critical Reasoning will blend critical reasoning, logic, and theory of knowledge in order to introduce you to the concepts and skills essential to= the identification, analysis, and evaluation of arguments as they occur in a br= oad spectrum of contexts. In order to satisfy the Critical Reasoning (A2) secti= on of General Education, you will learn criteria for distinguishing good reaso= ning from bad and will develop basic reasoning skills that can be applied both within your academic disciplines and outside the academic environment. You = will acquire skill in recognizing the logical structure of statements and argume= nts, skill in applying the principles of sound reasoning in the construction and evaluation of arguments, and an appreciation of the value of critical reaso= ning skills in the pursuit of knowledge. In order to develop these skills, a var= iety of sources of justification, evidence, and warrant, such as argumentation, problem-solving, scientific reasoning, and perception will be examined and compared to others which fail as sources of justification and evidence.
Course requirements and Grading:
4 exams, equally weighted = = 80%
Critical Reasoning Project &n= bsp; = ; 15%
Other graded work &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 5%
Course Outline:
Week:= &nb= sp; <= span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'>Topic and Reading:
(all dates approximate)
One &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Schick and Vaughan: Logical Possibility, Physical Possibility, and Reality<= /p>
Sept 5/7
Ch. 1, Close Encounters with the Strange (pp.1-14)
Ch. 2, The Possibility of the Impossible (pp.15-34)
Two &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Schick and Vaughan: When does personal experience provide reliable evidence?
Sept 12/14 = Ch. 3, Looking For Truth in Personal Experience (pp.35-87)
Three &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Schick and Vaughan: Realism, Relativism, and Extreme Relativism
Sept 19/21 = Ch. 4, Relativism, Truth and Reality (pp. 88-113)
Four &n= bsp; = ; Handouts:
Sept 26/28 =
Selection
from Thomas Kuhn=3Ds
Selection f=
rom
Barnes and Bloor, ARelat=
ivism,
Rationalism, and the Sociology of KnowledgeAFamous ______________________________=
_____________________________________________ Back to Scientific Reasoning =
and
Methodology Studies Twelve &=
nbsp; Schick
and Vaughn, Ch. 7, Science and Its Pretenders (pp.175-231) Nov 16 =
H=
andouts:
experimental reports Thirteen &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Science
v. Intelligent Design Nov 28/30 =
Handouts
and websites: resources Fourteen &=
nbsp; Schick
and Vaughan, Ch.8, How to Assess a @ (pp.
232-270) Dec 5/7 Fifteen &=
nbsp; Schick
and Vaughan, Ch.9, Case Studies in the Extraordinary (pp. 271-336) summary<=
/p>
Dec 12 Critical
Reasoning Project Due, December 12 Exam
#4, December 14 (last class meeting) _____________________________=
________________________________________________ While plagiarism and other va=
rieties
of academic theft are lesser problems in logic courses, I have included the
following CSUN information for you, just in case. What is Plagiarism? To plagiarize means to: ADVANCE
\d4Steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own; ADVANCE
\d4Use (another's production) without crediting the source; ADVANCE
\d4Commit literary theft; ADVANCE
\d4Present as new and original an idea or product derived from an exis=
ting
source. (Merria=
m-Webster
Online Dictionary definition of "p=
lagiarize,"
retrieved June 20, 2005) =
CSUN Policy on Plagiarism <=
!--[if supportFields]>ADVANCE
\d4. . .Cheating or plagiarism in connection with=
an academic
program at a campus is listed in Section 41301, Tit=
le 5,
California Code of Regulations, as an offense for which a student ma=
y be
expelled, suspended, or given a less severe disciplinary sanction. . . .(