Exam #3

Just a reminder: we've scheduled two different times to take exam #3.  You can take it on Thursday, December 15th at 2:40 p.m.  We'll meet outside our normal classroom and see if it's empty.  If it's not, we'll find a different room.  Text me (609-980-8367) if you're late and don't see us in that room.

You can also take it on Tuesday, December 20th at 7:00 p.m. in our normal classroom. It should take about 60-90 minutes to finish it, but you'll have two hours to take it.

Reading Response #4: Consciousness

Reading Response #4 is worth 50 points (5% of your overall grade), and is due at the beginning of class on Thursday, December 20th (the day of our final exam).  The assignment is detailed below:

Consider the three following positions:

1. Tinkerism: The mind-body problem is all but solved. One of the current, commonly-held theories we have discussed in class (that is, a version of materialism or dualism) is basically correct. We may have to clean up the theory a little bit to make it fully correspond with the truth, but we’re pretty much finished.
   
2. Overhaulism: None of the current theories we have discussed is an adequate response to the mind-body problem. An adequate response is going to require a radical shift in our understanding of the world. We will have to reject at least one widely held assumption, and possibly more, though we should inevitably be able to uncover a satisfying solution.
   
3. Unpossiblism: Not only is none of the current theories we have discussed an adequate response to the mind-body problem, there is no theory we humans can come up with to adequately resolve the problem. It’s simply too difficult for us to figure out. We’re doomed to never uncover a solution.

Which position best characterizes your stance on the mind-body problem? In approximately a 750-word essay, explain and defend your stance.

First, explain each of the three positions in greater detail. Among the philosophers we read (including the Nagel and McGinn articles we’re reading this week), who is a Tinkerist? Who is an Overhaulist? Who is an Unpossiblist? Be sure to defend all your answers. Use support from the texts!

Second, explain why you did NOT pick the two positions you did not pick. For example, if you’re a Tinkerist, why don’t you think we have to reject any strong intuitions? Why is the problem solvable at all?

Third, defend the position you choose. If you’re a Tinkerist, explain which theory is basically right, say why you believe it’s correct, and defend it against criticisms. If you’re an Overhaulist, explain what’s wrong with the current theories out there (be sure to consider responses to your general criticism[s] of these theories), and defend the claim that it’s nevertheless still possible to find a solution. If you’re an Unpossiblist, explain what’s wrong with the current theories out there (again, be sure to consider responses to your critique), and defend the further claim that the problem is in principle impossible for us to figure out.

Reading Response #3: Dualism

Here is the assignment for reading response #3:

Do you think dualism is a good theory of mind? Why or why not? In an approximately 500-word essay, explain and evaluate dualism. Be sure to discuss and evaluate criticisms for this theory. Furthermore, explain and defend your opinion of dualism. Don’t just explain what you believe; explain why you believe it, as well.

This assignment is worth 50 points (5% of your overall grade), and is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, November 29th.

Test #2

Just a reminder that test #2 will be held on Tuesday, November 15th. It's worth 25% of your overall grade.

There are a variety of questions on the midterm: some multiple choice, some short answers, different types of argument evaluation, a mini-essay, and extra credit. It covers everything we've gone over in class so far:

• Philosophy
  -Definitions
  -Doing philosophy
• Arguments
  -Evaluation: truth and support tests
  -Types: deductive and abductive
• Knowledge
  -Definition: Plato says true belief doesn't equal knowledge
  -Skepticism
  -Descartes: uncertain of childhood beliefs, senses, and reasoning; certain he's thinking and he exists
• God Stuff
  -Evidentialism vs. nonevidentialism
  -Design Argument: Paley's version, the abductive version, Hume's criticisms of the analogy & inductive versions
  -Problem of Suffering: the logical (deductive) version, the free will theodicy, Hick's soul-building theodicy, evaluating greater good responses, the abductive (evidential) version

10/25 Class Canceled

I'm sick, so this week's class is canceled. This confuses a few things logistically, so here are the changes:

• Test #2 will be moved back to Tuesday, November 8th.  
• We'll be reviewing for Test #2 in class on Tuesday, November 1st.

Reading Response #2: Design Argument

Reading Response #2 is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, October 18th.  The assignment is to write an approximately 500-word essay on the following prompt:

What do you think best explains the seeming complexity, order, and functionality of natural objects and aspects of the universe? In other words, explain and evaluate the abductive version of the design argument for God's existence.

• First, briefly explain the abductive version of the design argument. Describe the relevant evidence that needs to be explained. List the possible hypotheses that attempt to explain that evidence. And explain why proponents of the design argument believe that the intelligent designer hypothesis is the most plausible one.
• Then, evaluate this argument. Is an intelligent designer the best explanation of this evidence? Or is there another, better explanation? Tell me your opinion. Do you think the abductive version of the design argument is a good argument or a bad argument? Why? Be sure to defend your opinion with reasons.

The response is based on the design argument section of the textbook (chapters 5, 6, and 7) and on our discussion in class on October 11th.  Like the other reading responses, you won't be graded on your opinion. You'll be graded on how well you DEFEND your opinion.  Reading response #2 is word 50 points (5% of your overall grade).

Test #1

Test #1 will be held at the beginning of class on Tuesday, October 4th. You will have about 25 minutes to take it. There will be a section on evaluating deductive arguments, a section of short answer questions on the topics we discussed in class so far:

• philosophy in general
• doing philosophy
• understanding and evaluating arguments
• types of arguments: deductive and abductive (inferences to the best explanation)
• what is knowledge?
• skepticism
• Descartes battling skepticism

The test is worth 150 points (15% of your overall grade).

Reading Response #1

Reading Response #1 is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, September 28th. In about a 500-word essay, answer the following questions:

• What kinds of beliefs does Descartes say he cannot be certain of? Why does he believe he can't be certain of these?  Hint: Descartes mentions 2 general categories of beliefs in Meditation I (pages 207-210).  See also pages 159-160.
• What beliefs does Descartes say he can be certain of? Why does he believe he can be certain of these?  Hint: Descartes mentions 2 specific beliefs in Meditation II (pages 210-216).  See also pages 160-162.
• Evaluate his reasons: do you agree with Descartes? Why or why not?

Please paraphrase Descartes's ideas in your own words. The response is based on the Descartes reading from pages 207-216 of the textbook.