Introduction to Knowledge and Reality
Philosophy 102 / Dr. Neuner/GMCS 301
San Diego State University
Fall Semester 2011
INSTRUCTOR
Dr. Neuner (Peñafuerte is my maiden & middle name)
OFFICE HOURS
Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00 am - 12:00 noon
Wednesdays 11:30-12:30pm
OFFICE
Arts and Letters 444
EMAIL
aneuner@att.net
TA’s
Justin Murray and Elizabeth Travis (for email see blackboard)
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This is an introductory philosophy course focusing on questions about knowledge
(epistemology) and about reality (metaphysics). 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? Can we
prove that God exists? 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? In pursuit of answers to these questions, this course will:
 Introduce students to original writings of major philosophers such as Plato, Anselm,
Aquinas, Descartes, Berkeley, Locke, Hume, and Kant
 Broaden students’ perspectives and help them appreciate well-structured arguments and
significant conceptual distinctions
 Present standard theories about knowledge and reality: skepticism, rationalism,
empiricism, idealism, Kantian theory etc.
 Teach students how to critically evaluate a variety of opposing philosophical
views regarding knowledge and reality.
 To broaden students’ perspectives and help them appreciate well-structured arguments
and significant conceptual distinctions
REQUIRED TEXT All Texts are uploaded into Blackboard, in the Readings Folder; some
articles may be too lengthy and may be reduced in size before being assigned as class reading.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Date
Topics/Readings
Week 1, Aug 30, Sep 1
WHAT IS REALITY?
Plato: The Apology, The Meno, The Myth of the Cave
Week 2, Sep 6, 8
Epicurus: Letter to Herodotus, Descartes: Meditations
Berkeley: Three Dialogues, Locke: An Essay Concerning Human
Understanding
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Week 3, Sep 13, 15
Hume: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding,
Kant: The Critique of Pure Reason
EXAM 1 on Thurs, Sept 15
Week 4, Sep 20, 22
DOES GOD EXIST?
Aquinas: Summa Theologiae, Paley: Natural Theology,
Anselm: Proslogium
Week 5, Sep 27, 29
Pascal: Pensees, Hume: Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion,
Clifford: The Ethics of Belief, James: The Will to Believe
Week 6, Oct 4, 6
Mackie: Evil and Omnipotence, Plantinga: Defense of Free Will
EXAM 2 on Thurs, Oct 6
Week 7, Oct 11, 13
DO WE HAVE FREE WILL?
d’Holbach: Of the System of Man’s Free Agency,
Hospers: Meaning and Free Will
Week 8, Oct 18, 20
James: The Dilemma of Determinism, Ayer: Freedom and Necessity,
Nagel: Moral Luck
Week 9, Oct 25, 27
Hume: Of Liberty and Necessity, Frankfurt: Freedom of the Will. . .
EXAM 3 on Thurs, Nov 27
Week 10, Nov 1, 3
HOW CAN WE KNOW?
Russell: Appearance and Reality, Nagel: What’s it like to be a bat?
Quine: On What There Is, Parfit: Divided Minds and the Nature . . .
Week 11, Nov 8, 10
FEMINIST PHILOSOPHY
Code: Is the Sex of the Knower Epistemologically Significant?
Beauvoir: The Second Sex (Introduction)
Week 12, Nov 15, 17
EXAM 4 on Thurs, Nov 17
Week 13, Nov 22
DO I HAVE A SELF?
EXISTENTIALISM
Kierkegaard: Truth is Subjectivity
Sartre: Excerpts from Being and Nothingess, No Exit
Week 14, Nov 29, Dec 1
EASTERN PHILOSOPHY
Dogen: The Time-Being and Other Writings, Hakuin: Song of Zazen,
Sutra: The Discourse on the Not-Self Characteristic
Week 15, Dec 6, 8
Pierce: The Fixation of Belief, Kierkegaard: Truth is Subjectivity,
Abbott: Flatland
Finals Week
FINAL EXAM on Tuesday, Dec 13, 8:00-10:00 am
The course schedule is subject to revision. Please refer to weekly updates and announcements for changes.
GRADES
Four Exams and Final Exam
25% each (Four out of Five Exams count)
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GRADING SCALE
The grading scale:
89.9%-87%
100%-94% A
86.9%-84%
93.9%-90% A83.9%-80%
B+
B
B-
79.9%-77%
76.9%-74%
73.9%-70%
C+
C
C-
69.9%-67%
66.9%-64%
63.9%-60%
D+
D
D-
MAKEUP EXAMS
If a student can offer good reason for missing an exam (documentation needed), then a makeup
exam will be given during the semester. As a rule, makeup exams will be different in format from
the exam taken by the rest of the class and will consist of written questions rather than scantron
questions. Due to the format, makeup exams will probably be more difficult than the regular exam,
but students will be given additional time to prepare for it.
There are a total of five exams, which includes the final exam. The course grade will be
determined by the average of a student’s best four exams, worth 25% each. A student may opt to
take all five exams, in which case their lowest exam score would be dropped. A student may also
decide to take four exams only.
PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE
It is recommended that students attend all classes and participate occasionally. Students who miss
class are responsible for acquiring the material and keeping pace with the course. If a student must
miss a class for good reason, then an appointment may be made with the instructor for explanation
of missed lecture material.
As per university policy, students who miss classes due to participation in official university
activities (athletic games, band performances, etc.) and/or students who miss classes due to
religious observances must be accommodated if they have informed their instructor within the first
two weeks of classes about these foreseen absences. Make-up classes are a privilege, not a right.
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE
Use of lap top computers in class is allowed for the purposes of note-taking only; other computer
activities can prove distracting. Students should also refrain from any behavior that may be
disturbing to other students who are making the effort to be attentive. Cell phones and other
electronic devices should be turned off and stored away. PLEASE RESPECT OTHER
STUDENTS by NOT TALKING to one another during class. Certain students may be asked to
leave the lecture hall due to their disruptive behavior or technological devices may be taken away.
Students should try to be punctual, but are encouraged to show up to class even if they may be a
little late due to unforeseen circumstances. The instructor will never keep the class beyond the
allotted class period and requests that students wait until class has been dismissed before they begin
closing notebooks and packing away their school gear. If class must be cancelled on a given date,
an announcement will be made by the instructor or a note will be posted on the classroom door or
via Blackboard. If the instructor is more than 15 minutes late, please assume that the class is
cancelled and that advance notice was not possible.
DISABLED STUDENT SERVICES
Any students with special needs due to a documented medical condition should avail themselves of
the resources of the Disabled Students Services Office, Calpulli Center, Suite 3101 (619-5946473). Students who have such concerns that might prevent them from otherwise doing well in this
course should discuss this with the instructor so that proper arrangements may be made to
accommodate their conditions. Students should inform the instructor about any concerns that might
prevent them from doing well in this course so that special arrangements can be made to
accommodate their conditions.
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