SYLLABUS
Phil. 310, Philosophical Problems
Kellenberger
Spring 2009
SYLLABUS
PREREQUISITES: Completion of the lower-division writing requirement and three units of Philosophy.
TEXT: READINGS: PHIL 310
COURSE OBJECTIVES: In this course we shall examine and reflect on four traditional philosophical questions (Topics I through IV indicated below). In each case we shall proceed by reading pieces that will acquaint us with different views on the question we examine. The main objective of the course is to provide an opportunity for students to identify and understand the four philosophical questions we shall address, to consider critically the answers proposed by philosophers, and to work toward formulating their own view of each question. While the lectures, class presentations, and class discussion will clarify and augment the readings, and will raise difficulties and questions about the views examined, it will be left to the individual student to develop her/his critical conclusions throughout the course.
GENERAL EDUCATION: This course satisfies the "Philosophy and Religion" (C-3) section of the General Education Program. All courses in this section are designed to promote systematic reflection on questions concerning the structure and meaning of existence. Achieving this goal involves developing an appreciation for and assessments of alternative world views and rival conceptual schemes that have played central roles in human culture -- influencing art, science, government, literature, and other important aspects of civilization. This course can be applied to the nine-unit upper division General Education requirement. Phil 310 is not open to students who have completed Phil 150.
BASIS OF GRADE: Your grade will be based on three take-home essays of 4-5 pages, a class presentation, and class participation. Each essay will count for 25% of your course grade, your class presentation will count for 15%, and class participation will count for 10%.
ESSAYS: Over the semester there will be four essay assignments. You are required to write three of the four essays, the three that you choose. Each essay should be 4-5 pages in length (no longer). You will have several days to write your essay, typically over a weekend. See me if your work schedule etc. makes it difficult for you to turn in your essay when it is due. No written work that shows signs of plagiarism or academic dishonesty will be used as a basis of grade without penalty.
CLASS PRESENTATION: Class presentations will be assigned throughout the semester to individual students so that by the end of the semester each student has made a class presentation. Where possible I will choose volunteers; however if there is no volunteer I will pick a presenter at random. Each class presentation should take 15 minutes. Time yourself beforehand. It will be on an assigned reading or an aspect of an assigned reading. Your presentation should not be a summary of the reading, for all in class will have read it by the time of your presentation. Your presentation should raise or clarify an issue in the reading, identify an issue or claim in the reading that was hard to understand, examine a part of the reasoning in the reading, say why you agree with the author of the reading, or say why you disagree with the author of the reading. Class presentations should stimulate class discussion, and I will expect the class members to be prepared, on the basis of their having read the assignment, to ask questions of the presenter.
CLASS PARTICIPATION: Over the semester I will note your class participation as expressed in regular attendance, questions asked, and discussion participation
In marginal cases I will consider improvement. Regular attendance is strongly recommended, for one thing you can=t participate if you are absent, and for another much of the material of the course will be developed in our class discussion. Plus and minus grades will be used.
CONTACT INFORMATION: My office is on the fifth floor of Sierra Tower, Rm. 506.
Phone: (818) 677-2757.
My email address is james.kellenberger@csun.edu. I will check my email regularly.
OFFICE HOURS: MWF :10:00-10:30 AM and by appointment.
My office hours are for discussion with students, and you are encouraged to use them to discuss with me anything about the class material that you would like to explore or have clarified. Also I encourage you to discuss among yourselves outside class the issues that the course will cover, including those on the essay assignments. But your individual written work must be your own.
MISC: If you miss a class please explain your absence to me. If you see that you will need to miss a class or come late, please alert me. If you come to a class late, please just come in. You will be welcome.
Turn off cell phones and pagers. Laptops may be used for note taking. No electronic game playing or reading in class. Please bring the text to class each day.
PLEASE NOTE:
This semester the last day to change your academic program without a formal request is Fri Feb 6, 2009, the end of the third week. After that date changes in your schedule will require written proof that extraordinary circumstances have arisen from events beyond your control.
TOPICS & READING ASSIGNMENTS
WEEK ONE: Introduction, Background, and Preliminaries
Mechanics of the course. What is Philosophy?
Elements of Philosophical Reasoning
I. WEEKS TWO-FOUR: What is the character of our human identity, and is
there life after death?
READING:
John Locke, The Prince and the Cobbler
John Perry, "A Dialogue on Personal Identity and Immortality"
FIRST PAPER (4-5 pages)
II. WEEKS FIVE-SEVEN: What is the nature of our world? Are there
"material" objects?
READING:
Berkeley, THREE DIALOGUES BETWEEN HYLAS AND
PHILONOUS
B. Russell, from THE PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY
SECOND PAPER (4-5 pages)
III. WEEKS EIGHT-TEN: The problem of free will. If the world is causally
deterministic, how can human beings have free will?
READING:
Schopenhauer, from ESSAY ON THE FREEDOM OF THE WILL
C. L. Stevenson, "Determinism and Freedom"
C. A. Campbell, "Has the Self 'Free Will'?"
THIRD PAPER (4-5 pages)
IV. WEEKS ELEVEN-FOURTEEN: What is the relationship between faith
and reason?
READING:
St. Anselm, The Ontological Argument, from PROSLOGIUM
St. Thomas Aquinas, The Five Ways, from SUMMA THEOLOGICA
Pascal, The Wager, from THOUGHTS
W. K. Clifford, from "The Ethics of Belief"
William James, from "The Will to Believe"
William P. Alston, "A Philosopher's Way Back to the Faith"
WEEK FIFTEEN: Retrospective
FOURTH PAPER (4-5 pages)
Classroom Building and Room Number
- Additional facilities (if applicable…labs, practice rooms, studios)
Description Callout
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Course Prerequisites
Prerequisite Alert
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Student Learning Objectives
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Grading
Course Schedule
Reading/Activity
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