Philosophy 2200: Ways of Knowing Tu/Th 11- 12:15, CRN 13208 Instructor: Dr. Harriette Grissom hdgrissom77@gmail.com Spring 2011 Tentative Syllabus Jan. 11: Introduction to course: How do we know what we know? Jan. 13: What is a philosopher? Assignment: Plato’s “Apology” Jan. 18: Virtual Realities Assignment: Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” (from Republic) Jan. 20: Some modern perspectives on the philosopher and the cave Assignment: From Hannah Arendt’s Between Past and Future, Essay 3, “What is Authority?”; also, the Greek alphabet, on handout Jan. 25: Knowing and Community Assignment: Plato’s “Symposium” Jan. 27: Logical fallacies as a staple of persuasion (handout) Focus essay # 1 due Feb. 1: Confucius and Plato: Some common ground Assignment: Introduction to The Analects of Confucius, tr. Ames and Rosemont, with special attention to pp.1-7; 20-65; Feb. 3: Analects, Books 1-7; Feb. 8: Feb. 10: Analects, Books 8-15 Analogical ways of Knowing: Daoism and the Dogon Feb. 15: Faith and Knowing Lecture on Aquinas, Averroes, Hildegard and Claire of Assisi Feb. 17: Discussion on faith and knowing continued; Descartes preview Focus essay #2 due Generate debate topic Feb. 22: How *do* we know what we know? Assignment: Descartes, Meditations 1-3; http://www.classicallibrary.org/descartes/meditations/ Feb. 24: Splitting the Mind and the Body Assignment: Descarte: Meditations 4-6; http://www.classicallibrary.org/descartes/meditations/ Mar. 1: Mar. 3: Where Descarte leaves us: the discussion continues; review; Mid-term exam Mar. 8& 10: BREAK Mar. 15: Knowing and Freedom Assignment: What the Buddha Taught, Chapters 1-3;“Fire Sermon,” p. 95 Mar. 17: What the Buddha Taught, Ch.4-6; “Foundations of Mindfulness,” p.109 Mar. 22: Debate Focus essay #3 due Mar. 24: Collapse of the Reign of Reason, Intro to Nietzsche Assignment: From Hannah Arendt, Between Past and Future, Essay 1: “Tradition and the Modern Age” Mar. 29: Apollo, Dionysus, Chaos and the Death of God: Assignment: From The Portable Nietzsche, “The Madman” (p.95); Thus Spoke Zarathustra, First Part, pp.121-147. Mar. 31: The Will to Power: Knowing as Creation Assignment: From The Portable Nietzsche, Zarathustra, Second Part, “Upon the Blessed Isles” (p. 197) and “On Self-Overcoming” (p.225); Zarathustra, Fourth Part, “On the Higher Man” (p. 398). Apr. 5: Beyond Good and Evil Assignment: From The Portable Nietzsche, “The Gay Science [4], What preserves the species”(p.93); “Twilight of the Idols,” pp.479-505. Apr. 7: The Overwhelming Power of Instinct: Intro to Freud Assignment: From Outline of Psychoanalysis, Part One, I-IV Apr. 12: Learning the Language of the Unconscious Assignment: From Outline, Part One,V.; Part Two, VII; Part Three, IX. Apr. 14: The Ethical Implications of Psychoanalysis Apr. 19: Jung: Art and Myth as Ways of Knowing Focus Essay # 4 due. Apr. 21: Jung: continued Apr. 26: Apr. 28: The Body and Knowing The Body and Knowing May 3-9: Final exams Books you will need for the course: Six Great Dialogues of Plato: Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Phaedrus, Symposium, Republic; Jowett, trans.; Dover ISBN-10: 0486454657; ISBN-13: 978-0486454658 Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation;Ames & Rosemont trans., ed. Ballantine Books ISBN-10: 0345434072 ; ISBN-13: 978-0345434074 Between Past and Future,Hannah Arendt; Penguin Classics;ISBN10:0143104810;ISBN-13: 978-0143104810 Portable Nietzsche,Walter Kaufman, trans.Penguin Books (January 27, 1977) ISBN10: 0140150625; ISBN-13: 978-0140150629 Outline of Psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud; Martino Fine Books;ISBN-10: 1578989914; ISBN-13: 978-1578989911 What the Buddha Taught, Walpola Rahula; Grove Press; Revised ed. (1974); ISBN10: 0802130313; ISBN-13: 978-0802130310 About the Course This introductory course explores how philosophers have responded to a question that perplexes and intrigues thoughtful humans: How do we know what we know? The attempt to solve the riddle of epistemology (how we know what we know) raises other questions: What’s real? are some things more real than others? Can I trust my senses? my intellect? my feelings? experts? authorities? laws? “common sense”? How we analyze these problems bears significantly on a very important concern, namely, how we live our lives. Our goals will be to: 1) identify several different approaches to questions of epistemology—how we know what we know--and understand the related philosophical issues these questions raise; 2) recognize different approaches to these issues (and perhaps even different issues) in various historical periods and across cultures; 3) understand how the events and ideas of modernity overturned the reign of Reason, and how this massive shift has affected the pursuit of philosophy in the 20 th Century; 4) explore the relationship between philosophy and how we live as individuals and in communities; 5) learn how to make a persuasive, logically sound argument and how to challenge arguments that are not logically sound; 6) appreciate the dexterity of the intellect as it attempts to grapple with the human condition Course Requirements: * Attendance is crucial. Class lectures, discussions, and work in small groups are critical to learning this material. * Read the assigned material and be prepared to discuss it. Bring your text to class! * Class participation: This is a large class, and it may not be feasible for everyone to participate in discussions, but I encourage you to ask questions and offer your ideas about the material we’re studying. Each Tuesday, students will be asked to submit a question about the current topic of the class. Occasionally we may have an in-class writing assignment as a prelude to a discussion. It is critical to bring your texts to class since we will be referring to them regularly. * Written assignments: Students will submit four four-page focus papers during the semester. Possible topics and approaches will be generated as we go along, depending on the direction our class takes. *Debate: Students will have the option to participate in a debate on a topic that will be generated by the class. Those who participate in the debate can omit one of the focus papers. Everyone in the class will respond to the debate by evaluating the arguments of the participants. *Mid-term and Final Exams: These exams are designed to help students consolidate and internalize some of the information and ideas of the course. Grades will be based on the following: Each essay, 15 % of your grade; (essays combined, 6o% of your grade.) Mid-term, 12 %; Final, 12%; Questions submitted for class discussions, other in-class assignments: 10% Response to debate: 6% Good contributions to class discussions, excellent attendance, and evidence of conscientious effort can improve your grade significantly, as much as one letter grade Poor attendance (missing more than four classes), chronic tardiness or leaving class early (3 tardiness=one absence), chronically leaving class for breaks, etc. will lower your grade. A negative attitude or inattention in class, tweeting, texting, facing or surfing will detract from your grade. Failure to submit assignments on time can jeopardize your grade. I reserve the right not to accept an assignment that is more than one week late. Late assignments will be marked down. Policies: No make-up exams except in the event of a documentable emergency or by prior arrangement. Discourse during class discussions must be respectful toward others, considerate and civil at all times, regardless of how much we disagree and debate issues. Please submit all assigned papers as hard copy, not electronically. Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are serious offenses. The consequences for academic dishonesty are severe, ranging from failure on an assignment to a one-semester suspension. Please see the KSU Student Code of Conduct, Section II, which is published in the KSU catalog. If you have a recognized disability, please see me at the beginning of the course to arrange accommodations. No electronic devices during exams. Instructor’s responsibilities: In addition to preparing to lead each class and returning your work in a timely manner, I will assist you in any way possible so you can get the most from this class. If you need help understanding the material, writing, classroom dynamics, time management or any other aspect of the course, please make an appointment or speak with me after class. Regular office hour will be Tuesday and Thursday between 12:30 and 1:30 (location TBA). E-mail me to set up an appointment at another time or discuss class matters: hdgrissom77@gmail.com. Call me on the cell phone if necessary, 404-642-5491. (I don’t text.) Always communicate if you are having a problem that’s affecting your work in this course!