Phil 441 Syllabus
PHIL 441 - DR. KEITH KORCZ - FALL 2010
How To Reach Professor Korcz:
My office is in H. L. Griffin Hall, rm. 563. My office hours are MW 2:15-5:00, and M-F 12:00-1:00. We can also meet at other times by arrangement - just ask. My office phone no. is 482-6806. You can also contact me (or ask questions) by e-mail at keithk@louisiana.edu. keithk@louisiana.edu.Required Texts:
1. Noah Lemos, An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge, (Cambridge University Press, 2007).
2. Course Pack (on reserve at the Dupre Library Reserve Desk).
Course Content:
The primary aim of this course is to provide a fairly detailed review of the most central issues in contemporary theory of knowledge over the last few decades. However, we'll find that many of the issues we discuss (and many of the papers we read) are concerned with the very same problems that puzzled (or should have puzzled) philosophers such as Descartes and Hume. Note that this course has a prerequisite of 6 hours in philosophy.
Assignments & Grading:
There will be two in-class, short-answer exams, each worth 20% of the course grade. There will also be a cumulative short-answer final exam worth 25% of the course grade. In addition, there will be a term paper (approx. 20 pages in length). The term paper will be completed in two successive drafts. The first draft will be worth 10% of the course grade and the final draft worth 25% of the course grade. Each draft of the term paper will consist of two parts. The first part of the paper should be a critical discussion of a published article(s) or a view(s) we have discussed in class. The second part of the paper should consist of an original, positive contribution regarding one of the issues raised in the first part of the paper. Topics must be approved by the instructor. Suggested topics and further instructions will be provided later.
The letter grades will be assigned according to the standard scale, i.e. 90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, 59% and below = F. Such factors as improvement over the length of the course, attendance, etc. may be taken into consideration, especially where doing so may improve a borderline grade. You must complete all course assignments to receive a passing grade for the course (i.e., a grade other than F, NC or U).
Class Policies:
If you miss class, for whatever reason, it is your responsibility to get class notes from another student. If you miss an assignment due date, you must notify me within one week of either the due date of the assignment or the cessation of a medically documented persistent vegetative state in order to make up the assignment. Missed exams can be made up for full credit only if an appropriate excuse, e.g., illness requiring medical attention, participation in certain official university events, etc., is provided. An unexcused late assignment will be dropped 2/3 of a letter grade per day it is late. If you have a disability and require assistance with fulfilling class assignments, don't hesitate to notify the instructor and the Office of Disability Services at 482-5252. Finally, be sure you are familiar with all university policies described in the UL Lafayette Undergraduate Bulletin. All assignments for this class must be completed individually, and any instance of academic dishonesty on any assignment will be sufficient to fail the course.
Internet Resources:
My Philosophy 441 Home Page contains links to an on-line syllabus (which contains numerous links to home pages of authors we'll be reading, readings available on-line, etc.), and other resources you will find helpful. The web address is: http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~kak7409/441Home.html.
The largest Internet resource for theory of knowledge is my Epistemology Research Guide at http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~kak7409/EpistemologicalResearch.html. It contains links to the home pages of numerous contemporary epistemologists as well as over 1,000 papers in epistemology available for free on-line. The papers are also organized by subject.
In my How To Survive Your First Philosophy Class pages, there is a page on doing research in philosophy which contains a link to a complete list of philosophy journals available at Dupre and links to those available on-line. The URL address for the research page is: http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~kak7409/DoingResearch.html.
A Moodle page for the course will be activated at the beginning of the semester.
Emergency Evacuation Procedures:
A map of this floor is posted near the elevator marking the evacuation route and the Designated Rescue Area. This is an area where emergency service personnel will go first to look for individuals who need assistance in exiting the building. Students who may need assistance should identify themselves to the teaching faculty.
Course Calendar & Planned Reading Assignments*
*NOTE: Assignments, readings and due dates are tentative and may be changed.
(ITK) = An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge
(CP) = Course Pack
I. Knowledge and Skeptical Paradoxes Week of Aug. 23)
(ITK): Chapter 1, " Knowledge, Truth and Justification.”
II. The Analysis of Knowledge
A. Kinds of Analysis
(CP): “Epistemology and Philosophical Analysis” by Matthias Steup.B. The Gettier Problem (Weeks of August 30 & Sept. 6)
(CP): "Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?" by Edmund Gettier, (ITK): Chapter 2, “The Traditional Analysis and the Gettier Problem.”
Monday, Sept. 6: Labor Day - No Classes.
C. Defeasibility Theories of Justification
(CP): “Knowledge: Undefeated Justified True Belief” by Keith Lehrer and Thomas D. Paxson, Jr.
III. Theories of Epistemic Justification
1. Classical Foundationalism (Week of Sept. 13)FIRST EXAM: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27.
(ITK): Chapter 3, "Foundationalism," p. 44-55; (CP): "The Bases Of Empirical Knowledge" {NOTE: Link is to entire book rather than selection} by C. I. Lewis and "Epistemic Supervenience and the Circle of Belief" by James Van Cleve.2. Moderate Foundationalism (Week of Sept. 20)
(TOK): Chapter 3, "Foundationalism," p. 55-65; (CP): "How to be a Fallibilist" by Stewart Cohen.
Thursday, September 30 & Friday, October 1: Fall Holiday, No Classes.
B. Coherentism (Sept. 29)
(ITK): Chapters 4, “The Coherence Theory of Justification."
Monday, October 18: Advising for Spring 2011 Begins
C. Reliabilism (Weeks of Oct. 4 and 11)
(ITK): Chapter 5, “Reliabilism and Virtue Epistemology,” p. 85-98; (CP): "What Is Justified Belief?" by Alvin Goldman, “Externalist Theories of Empirical Knowledge” by Laurence BonJour, "Reliability & Justification" by Richard Feldman and “Epistemic Bootstrapping” by Jonathan Vogel.
D. Virtue Epistemology
(ITK): Chapter 5, “Reliabilism and Virtue Epistemology,” p. 98-107.
SECOND EXAM: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27.
IV. Internalist and Externalist Theories of Justification (Weeks of Oct. 18 and 25 and Nov. 1)
(CP): “Concepts of Epistemic Justification” by William Alston, "Internalism Exposed" by Alvin Goldman, "Internalism Defended" by Earl Conee and Richard Feldman, "Evidentialism" by Earl Conee and Richard Feldman.
FIRST DRAFT OF PAPER DUE: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.
V. Epistemic Value (Week of Nov. 15)
(CP): “What Is The Swamping Problem?” by Duncan Pritchard, and “Reliabilism and the Value of Knowledge” by Alvin GoldmanErik Olsson.
Thursday And Friday, November 25-26: Thanksgiving Holiday, No Classes.
VI. Skepticism (Weeks of Nov. 22 and 29)
(ITK): Chapter 7, “Skepticism”; (CP): "Skeptical Possibilities" by Robert Nozick, "Solving the Skeptical Problem" by Keith DeRose.
FINAL DRAFT OF PAPER DUE: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.
LAST DAY OF CLASSES: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3
STUDY DAY: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8
FINAL EXAM - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10 FROM 11:00 AM TO 1:30 PM IN REGULAR CLASSROOM.
