Philosophy 262, Spring 2008 (Gen Ed Tier 2 Humanities)
Lectures
11-11.50 MW (CHVEZ 111)
Discussion Sections
One: F 10-10.50 (CHVEZ 302), Two: F 11-11.50 (MINES 221), Three: F 12-12.50
(MCLND 126)
Note there will be no separate honors section for Philosophy 262 this
semester. Those who wish to take 262 as an honors course must “contract
in”. See David Owen. Please go to honors.
Instructor: Prof. David Owen, Soc Sci 220c, 621-3834, dwo@www.ic.arizona.edu
office hours M 10-11, W 1-3, and by appointment.
Discussion Leader: Farid Masrour, Soc Sci 130, 621-7098 (during office
hours only), fmasrour@u.arizona.edu
office hours: MW 1-2.30, and by appointment
Link to D2l website for this course.
Philosophy Department: Soc Sci 213, 621-3120
Philosophy Department's Webpage: http://w3.arizona.edu/~phil/
David Owen's Coursepage: http://www.ic.arizona.edu/~dwo/
Please check this Coursepage and D2l+-`. frequently for change in office hours, lecture topics and notes, etc.
Code of Academic Integrity
All students taking this course are bound under the Code of Academic Integrity.
Students should familiarize themselves with this code, which can be found here .
Students may find further discussion of academic honesty, plagiarism, etc. at
http://www.transcendentalists.com/plagiarism_and_copyright.htm,
where links to other useful sites can be found. An example of the sort of site
you ought to avoid, or at least not make use of, is
http://www.descartes-essays.com/.
Grading
Grading will be based on weekly assignments (approximately ten or eleven
throughout the semester), one in-class test, one take-home assignment, and a
final exam (approximately 25% each). The take home will involve extensive, written
essays, while the in-class test and final will involve essay style answers. The
ability to think clearly, to express oneself fluently, and to show knowledge of
the material as well as critical appreciation of the ideas found in that
material, is best fostered through written work. The weekly assignments will be
accepted only during the discussion section, in order to foster good
attendance. The weekly assignments will not be accepted late. However, only the
best eight of the weekly assignments will count towards your grade. Make-ups
will not be available for the test or the final exam nor will the take-home be
accepted late; weekly assignments accepted only during your discussion section.
Topics for weekly assignments available at the D2L website for the course.
Required Text
Central Readings in the History of Modern Philosophy, 2nd
edition, ed. Cummins and Owen (
Important Dates (readings will be announced in class and put on the
Coursepage)
Wed. Jan 16 - Feb 20: Descartes
Wed Jan 16: first class; admin drop of those missing both Jan 16 and Jan 18
classes
Mon Jan 21: MLK day, no class
Tues Jan 22: last day to add using webreg
Tue Feb 12: last day to drop with deletion of course enrollment from record
(use webreg)
Wed Feb 20: midterm test on Descartes (makeup test not available)
Discussion sections on Friday, Feb. 22th are
OPTIONAL
Mon Feb 25 - Wed Mar 31: Locke and Berkeley
Tue Mar 11: last day to drop with 'W'; (Philosophy Dept. staff, 213 Social
Sciences, may sign drop forms)
Mar 17-21: Spring Break; no classes
Mon Mar 31: take-home handed out (on Locke and Berkeley)
Wed Apr 2 - Wed May 7: Hume
Mon Apr 7: take-home due (late papers will not be accepted)
Wed May 7: last class
Mon May 12: Final Exam (11-1 pm) (make-up exam not available). The final
exam will be mainly on Hume, although there may be one or two optional
questions on the course as a whole.
As well as what is found in the textbook, please make use of Jonathan Bennett's "translations" of Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume and Kant into English
Philosophy pages Dictionary of Philosophical Terms and Names
James Pryor's Guidleines on Writing a Philosophy Paper
Link to Past Masters Website;
complete texts of Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume and many others
-note this is a restricted website, and can be accessed only
from a computer on campus
-select "Continental Rationalists" for Descartes,
"British Philosophy" for Locke, Berkeley and Hume
-select "Locke" or "Hume" for wider
selection of Locke and Hume texts
Descartes (Jan 23 to Feb 20)
Links to Descartes web pages
Descartes Lecture slides
Extra cogito slide; extra clear and distinct perception slide
Extra 5th Meditation slide
Extra 6th Meditation slide
Follow these links to find out more about Montaigne,
Princess
Elisabeth.
Reading for week of Jan 21: Descartes' First Meditation (see also extract from 7th replies)
Jan 28: Second Meditation (see also extract from 2nd replies); Third
Meditation
Feb 4: Third Meditation, Fourth and Fifth
Feb 11: Fifth and Sixth Meditation (see also extract from 2nd replies on the atheist
mathematician; see also extract from
4th replies on the real distinction)
Feb 18: Review, test
Sample Questions for Descartes test.
Descartes
Test, Feb 20.
Gradespread for Descartes test.
Locke and Berkeley (Feb 20 -
Mar 29)
Links to Locke web pages, to Berkeley web pages
Locke and Berkeley readings and topics
Locke Lecture slides
Berkeley Lecture slides
Locke & Berkeley takehome exam will be available from the D2L website. Due
in class Monday, April 7. Please read James Pryor's Guidelines on
Writing a Philosophy Paper before doing this assignment!
Gradespread for Locke/Berkeley test
Hume (Apr 2 - May 7)
Hume notes and lectures
Please note: the "notes and lectures" link now contains a link to
the text of Hume's Abstract. This contains a clear and concise summary
of the main argument of the Enquiry, and I strongly advise you to read
it.
Links to Hume web pages
Past and Future
Steve Martin on Humean Causality
Hume comic site
Study questions for Hume final
Final Exam: Monday May 12, 11-1
Assignment for week of April 28
The course evaluations will be conducted Wed. April 30 (for the course as a
whole) and May 2 (for individual sections). Attendance will be taken, and all
those who are present for both evaluations will receive extra credit.
Final Grade
Please note I am no longer permitted to post grades, or even to send them to
individuals by email. I am afraid you will have to wait until the grades are
available from the Registrar's office.
