Metaphysics and Epistemology: PHI3024
Epistemology Component
Lecturer: Dr Dean Chapman
Room 3.07 Graduate School of Humanities
dean.chapman@uct.ac.za
Lecture times: Monday to Wednesday, 3pm
Tutor: Richmond Kwesi, Email: kwsric001@myuct.ac.za
We focus on four interrelated debates in contemporary epistemology. The four corresponding questions
are:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Is the traditional “JTB” analysis of knowledge correct?
Is justification internal?
Do we have any external world knowledge?
Is non-internalism (i.e. externalism) about justification the key to anti-scepticism?1
I hope that, by the end of term, very many of us will (rationally think that we) know the answers.
This course outline contains important information, including details about the DP and plagiarism policies. In
the event that these policies are breached, ignorance of them will not constitute a defence.
Course text
A course reader will be supplied. An e-version of the same material is available on the Vula site. Some
extra readings and lecture notes may be posted on Vula as the course progresses.
Communications
Please check your email and Vula regularly as these are mechanisms that we use to communicate
important information to students. (Note, however, that some important announcements may be made
in lectures without being communicated by email or on Vula.)
DP requirements
 Attendance at tutorials.
 Timely submission of coursework essays.
 At least 35% in the coursework element of the semester-long course.
Students are responsible for indicating their presence in tutorials by signing the register.
1
See Steup, M. & Sosa, E. (eds.) (2005) Contemporary debates in epistemology, Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.
It is from Steup and Sosa’s book that I get this idea—the idea of structuring the course around a selection of
debates and their corresponding questions.
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Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a serious academic offence. Students caught engaging in this practice will be reported to
the relevant academic authorities. Details of what constitutes plagiarism can be found in the booklet, A
First Aid to Philosophy: A Student’s Guide to Philosophy Courses, also available at this web address:
http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/philosophy/firstaid_plagiarism.htm. Students are responsible for obtaining
this information.
Assessment

First coursework (metaphysics) essay.
(20%)

Second coursework (epistemology) essay.
(20%)

Final exam
(60%)
The epistemology essay is due by 12 Noon on Friday, September 27.
Please make sure that you submit an electronic copy and also a hard copy by this deadline. Your essays
will be analysed by turnitin, a plagiarism detection tool.
A list of essay titles will be available shortly. Details of final examination structure will be given towards
the end of the course.
Schedule of Topics and Readings
Week 26 August
Question 1: Is the “JTB” analysis of knowledge correct?
Reading
Gettier by Monday, August 26; Meyers & Stern by Tuesday, August 27.
Week 9 September
Question 1 / Question 2: Is justification internal?
Reading:
Goldman, ‘A causal theory’ by Monday, September 9;
Goldman, ‘What is justified belief?’ by Tuesday, September 10.
Week 16 September
Question 2: Is justification internal?
Reading:
Chisholm by Monday, September 16.
Week 23 September
Question 3: Do we have any external world knowledge?
Reading:
Stroud, ‘The problem of the external world’ by Monday, September 23.
Week 30 September
Question 3 / Question 4
Reading:
Sosa by Wednesday, October 2.
Week 7 October
Question 4: Is externalism about justification the key to anti-scepticism?
Reading:
Stroud, ‘Philosophical scepticism II’ by Monday, October 7.
(This schedule may change. Students are responsible for knowing about changes that are announced.)
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