Philosophy 11: Introduction to Philosophy

Matthew SilversteinFall 2007

Contact Information

Offi ce: 204 Cooper HouseOffi ce Hours: Tuesday, 2:00–5:00 pm, and by appointmentEmail: mesilverstein@amherst.eduPhone: (413) 542-8310

Course Description

Th is course will introduce you to the discipline of philosophy by way of several philosophical problems, including the possibility of knowledge, the morality of punishment, and the existence of God. But philosophy is more than a set of specifi c problems. It is also a way of attacking problems. As we move from one topic to the next, we will remain focused on the method of philosophy: clear, careful, analytical reasoning. We will practice this method and hone our philosophical skills both in class discussions and in written work.

Philosophy is always rewarding, but it can also be discomforting. To be good philosophers, we must reason honestly as well as clearly. We must be willing to put beliefs we hold dear under our philosophical microscopes, even though those beliefs may perish under such scrutiny. It is quite likely that at least one of your most cherished beliefs will fi nd its way under our microscopes during the course of the semester. When this happens, remember that our goal is not to demonstrate that your view is right or wrong, but rather to analyze and evaluate the arguments both in support of and against that view.

Course Requirements

Th ere will be three papers (5–7 pages). Preparation and active participation also count towards your grade. Your fi nal grade will be determined as follows:

Paper Paper Paper Preparation and participation

Your preparation grade will be a function of unannounced, in-class ten-minute essay assignments. Th ere will be several such assignments over the course of the semester. Th ey are designed to encourage thoughtful discussion. Th ough they will not be graded, I will collect them at the end of class. Th ese essays cannot be made up, and unsatisfactory work will receive no credit.

Active participation is an important part of any philosophy class. Philosophy is a conversational discipline: you are not doing philosophy if you are not participating in the conversation.

Course Policies

Late Papers. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, you will be penalized for late work. Papers that are submitted late and without an extension will be marked down ⅓ of a letter grade (from a- to b+, for example) for every day of lateness. If there are special circumstances (sporting events, family emergencies, dire illness), please contact me before the paper is due to arrange an extension.

Rewrites. You will have the opportunity to rewrite all of your papers. (You are never required to rewrite an assignment.) If you choose to rewrite a paper, you must submit the revised version along with the original version (and my comments). Rewrites are due one week after the graded original is returned to you. Your grade for that assignment will be the average of your grades on the original and the rewrite. Papers that are submitted late and without an extension may not be rewritten under any circumstances.

Course Book

Reason and Responsibility, edited by Joel Feinberg and Russ Shafer-Landau

Th is book is available at Amherst Books (8 Main Street). Additional readings will be available on electronic reserve.

Schedule of Topics and Readings

September 5 - Introductions

Unit 1 - Skepticism

September 10 - Descartes: Radical DoubtMeditations, Meditation 1 (pp. 166–8)

September 12 - Descartes: Self and SubstanceMeditations, Meditation 2 (pp. 169–73)Meditations, Objections and Replies (Cogito ergo sum) (handout)Principles of Philosophy, Part I, section 7 (handout)

September 17 - Descartes: Clear and Distinct PerceptionsMeditations, Meditation 3 (fi rst twelve paragraphs only) (pp. 173–5)Meditations, Meditation 4 (pp. 180–4)Meditations, Meditation 5 (pp. 184–7)

September 19 - Descartes: Th e Ontological ArgumentMeditations, Meditation 5 (pp. 184–7)Meditations, Objections and Replies (Whether God’s Essence …) (handout)Anselm of Canterbury, Proslogion (pp. 6–7)Guanilo of Marmoutiers, “On Behalf of the Fool” (pp. 7–10)

September 24 - Th e Cartesian CircleMeditations, Meditation 5 (pp. 184–7)Meditations, Objections and Replies (Clear and Distinct Perception) (handout)Meditations, Meditation 6 (pp. 187–95)

Unit 2 - The Existence of God

September 26 - Th e Cosmological Argument: ProponentsTh omas Aquinas, “Whether God Exists?” (pp. 21–2)Samuel Clarke, A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God (pp. 22–3)

October 1 - paper 1 due (5:00 pm)

October 1 - Th e Cosmological Argument: CriticsHume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, part ix (59–61)William Rowe, “Th e Cosmological Argument” (pp. 23–32)

October 3 - Th e Teleological Argument: Classic ReadingsWilliam Paley, Natural Th eology (pp. 32–37)David Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, parts ii–viii (pp. 38–59)

October 10 - Th e Teleological Argument: Contemporary ReadingsElliot Sober, “Th e Design Argument” (online)Stephen Jay Gould, “Th e Panda’s Th umb” (handout)

October 15 - Pascal’s WagerBlaise Pascal, “Th e Wager” (pp. 119–122)W. K. Cliff ord, “Th e Ethics of Belief ” (pp. 101–5)William James, “Th e Will to Believe” (pp. 106–114)

October 17 - Th e Problem of EvilHume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, part x–xi (pp. 61–72)J. L. Mackie, “Evil and Omnipotence” (pp. 78–85)

October 22 - Th e Free Will DefenseRichard Swinburne, “Why God Allows Evil” (pp. 89–97)

Unit 3 - Punishment

October 24 - Relativism

October 29 - UtilitarianismJeremy Bentham, Th e Principles of Morals and Legislation, chapters i, xiii (handout)

October 31 - Bentham on PunishmentJeremy Bentham, Th e Principles of Morals and Legislation, chapters xiv–xv (handout)

November 2 - paper 2 due (5:oo pm)

November 5 - Utilitarian AlternativesW. D. Ross, “Punishment” (handout)John Rawls, “Two Concepts of Rules” (handout)

November 7 - RetributivismHerbert Morris, “Persons and Punishment” (handout)

November 12 - ExpressivismJean Hampton, “A New Th eory of Retribution” (handout)Joel Feinberg, “Th e Expressive Function of Punishment” (handout)

November 14 - Th e Prisoners’ DilemmaRichard Dawkins, “Nice Guys Finish First” (handout)

November 26 - Evolution and PunishmentRichard Dawkins, “Nice Guys Finish First” (handout)

Unit 4 - Freedom and Moral Responsibility

November 28 - Th e ProblemPaul Holbach, “Th e Illusion of Free Will” (pp. 458–63)

November 30 - paper 3 due (5:00 pm)

December 3 - Compatibilist ProposalsA. J. Ayer, “Freedom and Necessity” (pp. 414–9)John Martin Fischer, “My Compatibilism” (pp. 425–37)

December 5 - Libertarian ResponsesRoderick Chisholm, “Human Freedom and the Self ” (pp. 438–45)Robert Kane, “Free Will” (pp. 445–58)

December 10 - Incompatibilist ResponsesDerek Pereboom, “Why We Have No Free Will” (pp. 464–77)

December 12 - A Final ApproachP. F. Strawson, “Freedom and Resentment” (handout)