22556 PHIL 102: KNOWLEDGE AND REALITY
MW 9:00-9:50 am SH-119
COURSE SYLLABUS
Fall 2014
Instructor: H. Reyes
Office: AL 427
E-mail: hreyes@mail.sdsu.edu
(619) 594-8839
Office Hours: MW 12:00 -1:00 pm; F 9:00 am-12:00 noon
CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION
Phil 102: Knowledge & Reality (3) (GE) is an introduction to philosophical
inquiry with emphasis on problems of knowledge and reality. Students are encouraged to
think independently and formulate their own tentative conclusions.
What is Phil 102 all about?
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Phil 102 is an introductory philosophy course focusing on 2 general areas of
philosophy: epistemology (knowledge) and metaphysics (reality).
In Metaphysics the primary question that the philosopher is asking is: What is
reality? This question can be asked in different ways. For example, we can ask: is this
world the really real world? Or is there a world far more real than this world we are
familiar with? Or is this table (or any object around us) a real table? What makes a table
(or any object around us) really a table? Is it a table because of its shape? Is it a table
because of its color? Or what is it that makes us truly human? Are we human because of
our body? Is there something else other than our body that makes us human? Is that the
mind/soul? What is the mind/soul? If so, how is the mind related to the body? What
happens to the mind/soul when we die? Does it survive death? What is it to be a human
being? Does every person have a mind or soul that is separate from the body? What is
personal identity? What makes a person the same person from birth to death? Or is there
1
God? Can we prove that God exists? Does God really exist? If so, why is there evil in
this world? ---- All these questions are different ways of asking the question about what
reality is. However way a philosopher answers such questions will show the
metaphysical view or the theory of reality of a philosopher.
In Epistemology the philosopher is concerned with asking: What is knowledge?
This question can be asked in different ways. For example, we can ask: Is knowledge
attainable? Or can we know? What are the sources of knowledge? What is knowledge
and how does it differ from mere opinion? Is sense experience necessary for all types of
knowledge? What part does reason play in knowledge? What can we prove with
certainty or probability? Depending on how such question is answered will determine the
epistemological view of a philosopher.
In pursuit of answers to these questions, this course will:
 Introduce students to original writings of major philosophers such as Socrates,
Plato, Aristotle, Anselm, Aquinas, Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, and
Sartre.
 Broaden students’ perspectives and help them appreciate well-structured arguments
and significant conceptual distinctions
 Present standard theories about knowledge and reality such skepticism, rationalism,
empiricism, moderate realism, idealism, Kantian theory, agnosticism, atheism,
existentialism, etc.
 Teach students how to critically evaluate a variety of opposing philosophical views
regarding knowledge and reality.
 Help students to explain, enunciate and summarize the basic claims and concepts of
the philosophers regarding their theory of knowledge and theory of reality
In addition, it is our hope that through careful reading (oftentimes, re-reading) of the
materials of the course students will develop analytical and critical skills in their thinking
and writing as evidenced by their being able
 to explain, enunciate and summarize the basic claims and concepts of the
philosophers
 to interconnect and map the philosophers’ basic claims and concepts
 to role play in a debate format by taking the position of a philosopher and
defending it against possible objection
 to compare and contrast the basic claims of the philosophers discussed in the
course, highlighting their similarities and differences, as well as showing a
very good understanding of the philosophers’ basic claims
In pursuit of these objectives, the course will be based on the careful reading and
extensive examination of major philosophical theories on knowledge and reality. In so
far as philosophy is an on-going dialogue between earlier and later thinkers, we will
approach each philosopher that will be discussed in the context of his/her predecessor. In
view of this, class discussion of materials will generally follow a historical order. To
help students develop keenness in the assessment of the merits and weaknesses of the
2
philosophical views discussed in the course, students will be required to do a substantial
amount of expository and critical writing in response to the materials discussed in the
course.
GENERAL EDUCATION (GE) OUTCOMES
Philosophy 102 is a General Education course aimed at “providing the breadth of
knowledge necessary for meaningful work, life-long learning, socially responsible
citizenship, and intellectual development. Among the “seven essential capacities”
emphasized by San Diego State’s General Education program, Philosophy 102
develops in students the ability to
1. Construct, analyze, and communicate arguments;
2. Apply theoretical models to the real world;
3. Contextualize phenomena;
4. Negotiate differences;
5. Integrate global and local perspectives;
6. Illustrate relevance of concepts across boundaries;
7. Evaluate consequences of actions.
SPECIFIC GE LEARNING GOALS
This GE course fulfills the goals for GE Courses in the Humanities and Fine Arts.
Students will acquire “capacities for reflection, critique, communication, [and] cultural
understanding.” Upon completing this area of Foundations, students will be able to:
Goal 1: Analyze written, visual, or performed texts in the humanities and fine arts with
sensitivity to their diverse cultural contexts and historical moments.
Goal 2: Develops a familiarity with various aesthetic and other value systems and the
ways they are communicated across time and cultures.
Goal 3: Argue from multiple perspectives about issues in the humanities that have
personal and global relevance.
Goal 4: Demonstrate the ability to approach complex problems and ask complex
questions drawing upon knowledge of the humanities.
NOTE: Because this course is “blended” class [MW F2F and F online], you need to
see whether you meet the distance learning prerequisites, please take SDSU’s “readiness
survey” at https://sunspot.sdsu.edu/pls/webapp/survey.hybrid_learning.main
2) Download Mozilla’s Firefox is recommended (however, some
students claim that Safari or Chrome work better for them).
3) Download (for free) all necessary software, including the latest
versions of: Adobe’s Acrobat Reader and Flash Player, QuickTime
3
Player, and Java.
4) Have a backup plan for fulfilling course obligations when/if your computer
malfunctions. For example, to find out about computers at the library; go to
http://scc.sdsu.edu/home.php.
5)
If you need to learn
http://its.sdsu.edu/blackboard/student/
how
to
use
Blackboard,
go
to:
TECHNOLOGY
The instructor cannot provide IT support. You are responsible for your computing needs.
When problems occur on the SDSU end (blackboard crash, our clerical errors), you will
not be penalized. However, when problems occur on your end, you must fix them prior
to any deadlines. Student IT problems are not an acceptable excuse for non-completion
of work. You can go to Student Computing Center in Love Library for help or to use
their computers; call (619) 594-3189; email scc@rohan.sdsu.edu; or click
http://scc.sdsu.edu/home.php.
DISABLED STUDENT SERVICES
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations
for this class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services (Calpulli
Center Room 3101) at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your
accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible.
Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that I cannot
provide accommodations based upon disability until I have received an
accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
The CSU Office of the Chancellor defines a learning disability as “... a
generic term that refers to the heterogeneous group of disorders
manifested by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of
listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning or mathematical
abilities. These disorders occur in persons of average to very superior
intelligence and are presumed to be due to central nervous system
dysfunction. Even though a learning disability may exist concomitantly
with other handicapping conditions (e.g., sensory impairments) or environmental
influences (e.g., cultural/language difficulties), it is not the direct result of these
conditions or influences.” If you think something might prevent you from doing well in
this course, you should discuss this with me so that proper arrangements may be made to
accommodate your needs.
Students with disabilities or religious needs who require special accommodation must
give us at least one weeks’ notice. Disability accommodation requires documentation
from SDS.
4
REQUIRED TEXT
Cahn, S. Classics of Western Philosophy (8th edition). 2012. Hackett. (ISBN:
978-1-60384-8)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Attendance and Participation (MW - F2F in class and F - online):
Because of the nature of the course and the structure by which it is conducted, it is
imperative for the students to attend each F2F class on time.
 It will be to your benefit to avoid unnecessary absences in the F2F part of the
class as such absences will drastically affect your appreciation and
understanding of the materials discussed as well as your performance in the
tests.

On the F2F class meeting: You must be prepared for each class and actively
participate in class activity. You will have (or at least have tried to) read and
thought about the assigned reading before each class. Be sure to bring the
assigned text or handout with you to class. Active participation requires that
you follow closely the on-going class discussion, and think of the questions
asked and the answers offered even if you may not be the one being asked.
Keep in mind that you are a major participant to the philosophical
conversation going on in class.

On the Friday Online class: Participation will be through Blackboard. You
will be doing online discussion through what I call Online Discussion Board
(ODB). For every major reading assigned, you will be asked to answer some
questions based on the reading, or make comments about some passages
taken from the reading, or participate in a group discussion or activity.
2. 2 Writing Assignments (WA): For two of the major readings that we will be doing
in this class, you will submit what is called Writing Assignment. Your WA will
consist of your answers to the guide questions provided for a particular reading.
Please refer to the course outline section of this handout for the due dates for these 2
WAs. Ten (10) points will be deducted from the WA grade the WA that is
submitted late.
3. 3 Major Exams (ME): All major exams are done in class. These are
announced/scheduled whole class period essay exams. One week before the
scheduled major exam (to give focus and direction in your preparation) you will be
provided through Blackboard with guide questions from which the major exam
questions will be chosen at random. Please refer to the course outline section of this
handout for the dates of these major exams.
4. Comparative Analysis Paper (CAP) – In lieu of a final exam, you will submit a
comparative analysis paper on the day of final exam for our class (Monday,
12/15/14) wherein you will construct a dialogue or conversation between 2
5
philosophers discussed in the course, highlighting in the dialogue areas of similarities
and differences in their basic philosophical claims about knowledge and reality.
More details about this paper will be provided in a separate handout that will be
posted on Blackboard.
GRADING POLICY
Your final grade will be based on the following distribution of points:
45 % -------------------- 3 Major Exams
20 % -------------------- 2 Writing Assignments
15 % -------------------- Online Discussion Board (ODB)
20 % -------------------- Final Paper (CAP)
100 % ------------------ Final Grade
Your final letter grade will be based upon the following scale:
96 – 100 ---------- A
76 – 79 ----------- C+
90 - 95 ----------- A73 – 75 ----------- C
86 – 89 ----------- B+
70 – 72 ----------- C83 – 85 ----------- B
66 – 69 ----------- D+
80 – 82 ----------- B60 – 65 ----------- D
Anything below 60 is an F.
COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK #1: Introduction to the course/SOCRATES
08/25/14 (M – F2F): Introductory discussion: What is philosophy? – its
etymology, and general divisions or areas.
Assignment for 8/29/14): Read the Apology from Cahn text, pp. 27-39
08/27/14 (W – F2F): Introduce Socrates and the Apology reading
08/29/14 (F - Online): ODB #1 – Due Friday, 08/29/14 (11 pm)
Assignment for Week #2: Re-read Apology from Cahn text, pp. 27-39; Begin to
work of WA #1 (Apology). Note: WA #1 Guide will be posted on Blackboard.
WEEK #2: SOCRATES – Reflect on the life and ideas of an exemplar philosopher in
the person of Socrates
NOTE: 09/01/14 (M) – NO CLASS – Labor Day
09/03/14 (W- F2F): Discuss the Apology
09/05/14 (F – Online): ODB #2 – Due Friday, 09/05/14 (11 pm)
Assignment for Week #3: Complete WA #1; and read Plato’s Meno from the
Cahn text, pp. 80-96
6
WEEK #3: PLATO – Introduce Plato
09/08/14 (M - F2F): Discuss Meno
09/10/14 (W – F2F): Discuss Plato’s Theory of Forms
*WA #1 DUE – Wednesday, 09/10/14 – Hard copy to be submitted in class
09/12/14 (F – Online): ODB #3 – Due Friday, 09/12/14 (11 pm)
Assignment for Week #4: Read Book 6 and Book 7 of Plato’s Republic from
Cahn text, pp. 169-178
WEEK #4: PLATO - Reflect on the philosophical claims of Plato
09/15/14 (M – F2F): Discuss Plato’s Cave Metaphor and divided line analogy
09/17/14 (W – F2F): Discuss Plato’s Sun analogy
09/19/14 (F – Online): ODB #4 – Due Friday, 09/19/14 (11 pm)
Assignment for Week #5: Review for Major Exam #1 (ME #1 guide will be
posted on Blackboard); and read Aristotle’s On the soul from Cahn text, pp. 229242
WEEK #5: ARISTOTLE - Reflect on the philosophical claims of Aristotle
*09/22/14 (M –F2F): MAJOR EXAM #1
09/24/14 (W – F2F): Discuss Aristotle’s Theory of Hylomorphism
09/26/14 (F – Online): ODB #5 – Due Friday, 09/26/14 (11 pm)
Assignment for Week #6: Read Book 1 and Book 2 of Aristotle’s Nicomachean
Ethics from Cahn text, pp. 275-290
WEEK #6: ARISTOTLE – Continue to reflect on the philosophical claims of Aristotle
09/29/14 (M – F2F): Discuss Aristotle’s Theory of Ideogenesis
10/01/14 (W – F2F): Discuss some claims made by Aristotle from the
Nicomachean Ethics
10/03/14 (F – Online): ODB #6 – Due Friday, 10/03/14 (11 pm)
Assignment for Week #7: Review your notes on Plato and Aristotle for
comparative Analysis of the two philosophers
WEEK #7: ARISTOTLE/PLATO - Comparative Analysis of the 2 philosophers
10/ 06/14 (M –F2F): Comparative analysis of Plato and Aristotle
10/08/14 (W – F2F): Introduce the question of the existence of God
10/10/14 (F – Online): ODB #7 – Due, Friday, 10/10/14 (11 pm)
Assignment for Week #8: Read chapter 1 and chapter 2 of St. Anselm’s
Proslogion from the Cahn text, pp. 430-432; Gaunilo’s Reply on Behalf of the
Fool from Cahn text, pp. 442-444; and Anselm’s Reply to Gaunilo from Cahn
text, pp. 445-450
7
WEEK #8: ST. ANSELM – Reflect on the claims of St. Anselm on the existence of God
10/13/14 (M – F2F): Discuss the so-called ontological argument of St. Anselm
10/15/14 (W – F2F): Discuss Gaunilo’s objection and the reply of St. Anselm to
Gaunilo
10/17/14 (F - Online): ODB #8 – Due Friday, 10/17/14 (11 pm)
Assignment for Week #9: Read St. Thomas Aquinas’ On the Existence of God
from Cahn text, pp. 467-470
WEEK #9: ST. THOMAS AQUINAS – Reflect on the claims of St. Thomas on the
question of the existence of God
10/20/14 (M – F2F): Discuss question 2, article 1 and article 2
10/22/14 (W – F2F): Discuss question 2, article 3
10/24/14 (F – Online): ODB #9 – Due Friday, 10/14/14 (11 pm)
Assignment for Week #10: Review for Major Exam #2 (ME#2 guide will be
posted on Blackboard); read Descartes’ Meditation 1 and Meditation 2 from Cahn
text, pp. 533-535; and begin work on WA #2 (Descartes) Note: WA #2 guide will
be posted on Blackboard.
WEEK #10: DESCARTES – Reflect on the philosophical project of Descartes
*10/27/14 (M – F2F): MAJOR EXAM #2
10/29/14 (W – F2F): Discuss Meditation 1 of Descartes
10/31/14 (F – ONLINE): ODB #10 – Due Friday, 10/31/14 (11 pm)
Assignment for Week #11: Complete WA #2, and read Descartes’ Mediation 2
and Meditation 3 from Cahn text, pp. 535-546
WEEK #11: DESCARTES – Continue to reflect on the claims of Descartes
11/03/14 (M – F2F): Discuss Mediation 2
11/05/14 (W – F2F): Discuss Meditation 3
*WA #2 DUE: Wednesday, 11/05/14 (Hard copy of WA #2 to be submitted in
class)
11/07/14 (F – Online): ODB #11 – Due Friday, 11/07/14 (11 pm)
Assignment for Week#12: Read Descartes’ Meditation 5 and Mediation 6 from
Cahn text, pp. 549-559
WEEK #12: DESCARTES - Continue to reflect on the claims of Descartes
11/10/14 (M – F2F): Discuss Meditation 5 and Meditation 6
11/12/14 (W – F2F): Introduce the empiricists
11/14/143 (F – Online): Read lecture on Locke and Berkeley posted on
Blackboard
Assignment for Week #13: Read Lecture on Hume posted on Blackboard
8
WEEK #13: LOCKE, BERKELEY and HUME
11/17/14 (M – F2F): Discuss Locke and Berkeley
11/19/14 (W – F2F): Discuss Hume
11/21/14 (F – Online): ODB #12 – Due Friday, 11/21/14 (11 pm)
Assignment for Week #14: Review for Major Exam #3 (ME #3 guide will be
posted on Blackboard)
Week #14: Hume – Continue to reflect on the claims of Hume
*11/24/14 (M – F2F): MAJOR EXAM #3
Assignment for week #15: Begin work on Comparative Analysis Paper; read the
lecture on Kant posted on Blackboard and read Sartre’s The Humanism of
Existentialism from Cahn text, pp. 1321-1333
(11/26/14 – 11/28/14) – THANKSGIVING BREAK – NO CLASS
WEEK #15: KANT/SARTRE
12/01/14 (M – F2F): Discuss Kant
12/03/14 (W – F2F): Discuss Sartre
12/05/14 (F –Online): ODB #13 – Due Friday, 12/05/14 (11 pm)
Assignment for week #16: Complete comparative analysis paper (CAP). THIS
CAP is your final exam.
WEEK #16: Review week
12/08/14 (M – F2F): Conference with instructor about the status of your CAP
12/10/14 (W – F2F): Last day of Class – Distribute pre-final grade
*FINAL EXAM DAY: Monday, 12/15/ 2014 - Submit CAP [This is your Final
Exam] to Prof. Reyes in her office at AL 427 between 8:00 and 10:00 am.
9