Philosophy 200: Introduction to Philosophy
Brian Redekopp
brian.redekopp@mail.mcgill.ca
Office hours: Thurs. 2:30-4:30
Leacock 934
Summer 2009
Mon.-Thurs. 9:35-11:55
Rutherford Physics 115
Course Summary: This course has two main purposes. One is to introduce students to
the subject matter of philosophy, i.e. to some of its basic areas, problems and traditions.
The content of the course is organized around the following (big) questions:
 What does it mean to know something? Do I know there is a reality that exists
independently of my experiences?
 What is the place of pleasure in a good life?
 Is there a fact of the matter about what is right and wrong, or is all morality
culturally relative?
 Can the existence of God be demonstrated?
The second main purpose of this course is to introduce students to the practice of
philosophy, i.e. to critically evaluating philosophical claims and to formulating and
rationally defending one’s own. To this end the latter part of each class will consist in a
discussion period devoted to exploring issues arising from the lectures and readings.
Developing one’s own philosophical skills will also be a significant aspect of the writing
assignments and final exam.
Textbook: A coursepack will be available at The Word Bookstore, 469 Milton.
Students should expect to spend, on average, between one and two hours on assigned
readings prior to each class.
Evaluation:
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A written analysis of a philosophical text, worth 20% of the final grade.
A short essay (max. 1500 words), worth 35%.
Five pop quizzes on the readings, worth 2% each, for a total of 10%.
A final exam, worth 35%.
Lateness Policy: Assignments submitted late will be penalized 5% per day overdue.
"McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore, all students must understand
the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences
under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see
www.mcgill.ca/integrity/ for more information)."
Course Schedule
Thurs., June 4: Course Introduction. Strategies for engaging with philosophical texts.
Reading (optional): Alec Fisher, The Logic of Real Arguments (2nd ed.), Chapters 1 and
2.
Mon., June 8: Knowledge and opinion. What does it mean to know something?
Reading: (1) Plato, Theaetetus, 142a-151d; 200d-202d. (2) Plato, Meno, 96d-98c. (3)
Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy, First Meditation.
Tues., June 9: Realism and idealism. Is there a reality beyond the appearances?
Reading: Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy, Second Meditation.
Wed., June 10: : Realism and idealism. It is unreasonable to doubt that there are things
beyond my mind.
Reading: Bertrand Russell, “Appearance and Reality” and “The Existence of Matter” in
The Problems of Philosophy.
Thurs., June 11: Realism and idealism. Only minds and their ideas exist.
Reading: George Berkeley, Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous, First
Dialogue.
Mon., June 15: Realism and idealism. The idea of matter is unnecessary and incoherent.
Reading: Berkeley, Three Dialogues, Second Dialogue.
Tues., June 16: Hedonism. Is pleasure the goal of human life? Ought it to be?
Reading: (1) Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus. (2) Plato, Protagoras, 351b-362a
Wed., June 17: Hedonism. Happiness, pleasure and morality.
Reading: John Stuart Mill, “What Utilitarian Is” in his Utilitarianism.
Thurs., June 18: Hedonism. The meaning of “good” cannot be the pleasant.
Reading: G.E. Moore, Principia Ethica, sections 1-2, 6-10, 37, 39-44.
Mon., June 22: Moral relativism. Is there a fact of the matter about what is right and
wrong?
Reading:.Neil Levy, “What is Moral Relativism and Why Does It Matter?” in his Moral
Relativism: A Short Introduction, 13-31.
Tues., June 23: Moral relativism. The concept of virtue can secure the objectivity of
moral judgments.
Reading: Martha Nussbaum, “Non-Relative Virtues: An Aristotelian Approach” in
Nussbaum and Sen (eds.) The Quality of Life, 242-269.
Wed., June 24: NO CLASS (Fête nationale).
Thurs., June 25: Moral relativism. Relativism follows from the nature of morality.
Reading: Gilbert Harman: “Moral Relativism Defended,” Philosophical Review 84
(1975), 3-22.
Mon., June 29: The argument from design. Does the order of the universe show that it is
the product of a divine intelligence?
Reading: David Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, Part II, Part III,
Tues., June 30: The argument from contingency. The only adequate explanation for the
existence of the universe is that there is something beyond it that exists necessarily.
Reading: (1) Gottfried Leibniz, “On the Ultimate Origination of Things,” in The
Philosophical Writings of Leibniz, trans. Mary Morris. (2) Richard Taylor, Metaphysics
(4th ed.), 100-108.
Wed., July 1: NO CLASS (Canada Day).
Thurs., July 2: The ontological argument. That God exists follows from the idea of God.
Reading: (1) St. Anselm of Canterbury, Proslogion, Ch. 1-5. (2) Immanuel Kant “The
Impossibility of an Ontological Proof of the Existence of God” in Critique of Pure
Reason. A592/B620-A602/B630.
Mon., July 6: What is philosophy, and is it worthwhile?
Reading: (1) Bertrand Russell, “The Value of Philosophy” in The Problems of
Philosophy. (2) Graham Priest, “What is Philosophy?” Philosophy 81 (2006), 200-207.