Language and Meaning

Hon 104 B

Language and Meaning

Spring 2011

Professor Matthew Davidson

tinyurl.com/davidsonphilosophy

(allow 2 days for a response, put "Hon 104" in the subject line)

Office Hours: MWF 12-1:20 VA 228

Phone: 537-7727

Course Description.

This course will examine (among other things) the nature of human knowledge, the nature of the human mind, the rationality of belief in God given the existence of evil, an argument that it is rational to believe in God, and our moral obligations to the poor.

There is one required text, as well as readings available on the website. The required text is

Exploring Philosophy ed. Stephen Cahn

Recommended:

Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman (recommended) also available for checkout at UH 052.

About the Class

I expect you to come to class each day having done the assigned reading and with questions to ask. It will not be possible for you to read the material assigned for the course without having questions. You need to take notes on what you are reading, and you need to write down your questions and bring them to class. The material will be hard. This class will focus on critically evaluating ideas through class discussion and reflection both inside and outside class. I will not feed you information which I expect you to memorize, write down for a test, and forget. The goal of this class is to assist you in thinking. This often has little to do with memorizing facts. Also, just because you're not being fed a spate of information you shouldn't think you shouldn't be taking notes. You should be thinking hard about what is being discussed in class, and you should be taking notes as you think through problems and listen to what your classmates or I have to say.

Assignment of Grades

The grade will consist of a midterm (30%), a last exam on the last day of class (10%), n short critical papers that are graded to be assigned randomly throughout the quarter and to be turned in the next class period (worth 25/n% each), and a final paper due the day of the final worth 35%. There may be pop-quizzes given. Each will be worth 3% of the grade, and these points will be taken from the final exam, final paper, and midterm; in that order. The papers should be typed, and double-spaced in 12-point font. No papers will be accepted late without a very good reason. You should e-mail me to find out what you missed in class if you miss class; not knowing about the assignment isn't sufficient grounds for an extension on it. Always keep extra copies of your papers. All students should be familiar with the University regulations on plagiarism, as stated in the Bulletin. You may find a link to the Bulletin and information on plagiarism on the website.

In addition, there is an extra credit paper on Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman, the late Caltech physicist. It will be worth 6% of the grade. For many of my students, reading this book has a deep impact on them. It is due in the sixth week of class. It can be turned in by the last day of class for 5%.

Final grades will be assigned as follows: n0% will suffice for a grade G-. n3% will suffice for a grade of G. n8% will suffice for a grade of G+. (So, 80% is a B-, 83% is a B, and 88% is a B+)

Classroom Conduct

Please turn off cell phones and put them away. Please do not talk while others are talking. If you have to leave class early, please let me know and sit by the door. If you have some sort of condition which causes you to have to leave the classroom often, please let me know and sit near the door.

No knives (other than penknives), guns, or other weapons (throwing stars, nunchakus, garrottes, galleys, halberds, catapults, etc.) are allowed in class. If you have any of these in class, you forfeit your right to continue in the course, and may be ejected from the class and/or referred to the University for further disciplinary action.

If you are in need of an accommodation for a disability in order to participate in this class, please let me know ASAP and also contact Services to Students with Disabilities at UH-183, (909)537-5238.

This class is a rare opportunity to have your minds challenged and stretched, your thinking deepened and clarified. This has obvious practical benefits, but apart from these I hope that you will see that thinking and learning is good for its own sake , intrinsically good.

Furthermore, if philosophy is something that interests you, I encourage you to consider taking further courses, and, maybe even consider majoring in philosophy. Feel free to talk to me about other classes you might take, or have a look at the department website here.

Schedule

The following is a rough schedule of readings and assignments. We may deviate temporally from the schedule as our interests dictate, and we may examine additional materials to aid in our understanding of the texts. All readings are from Exploring Philosophy or on the web.

Week 1: Introduction; Arguments. Aquinas' first way.

Week 2: Continue Aquinas. Swinburne, "Why God Allows Evil"

Week 3 Finish Problem of Evil.

Week 4: Nagel "What is it Like to be a Bat?" Chalmers on the hard problem of consciousness (web).

Week 5: Nagel/Chalmers on the hard problem of consciousness (web). Frank Jackson, "Epiphenomenal Qualia", (127-128, 130 (Mary section), 133). Available on the web.

Week 6: Finish Jackson. Russell "Appearance and Reality" (Chapter 1-2 of The Problems of Philosophy, available on the web). Midterm.

Week7: Finish "Appearance and Reality." Unger "I Do Not Exist" (web) and Descartes Meditations 1-2 (web, book).

Week8: Unger and Descartes. Ayer "What is Knowledge", Gettier "Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?"

Week 9: Finish Ayer/Gettier. Singer "Famine, Affluence, and Morality"

Week 10: Hook "What is a Liberal Education?" and "Lockhart's Lament" (website). Rough Draft Due

The final paper is due the day of the scheduled final exam period.

Additional course materials will be available on the webpage.