SYLLABUS
Philosophy 230--Philosophical Classics--Summer Quarter, 1999--A. C. W. Bethel
Bethel's Office: 47 (that’s the Maze), 34R; hours MW 11:10 a.m.-noon; Tu 8:10-11:00 a.m.; telephone 62015; e-mail abethel@calpoly.edu.
Philosophy Department Office: 47-37, telephone 62041; Department Secretary: Valerie Anderson
Required Textbooks: Plato, Five Dialogues tr. Grube (Hackett); Descartes, Meditations ed. Cress (Hackett); Hume, An Enquiry
Concerning Human Understanding; ed. Steinberg (Hackett); Gennaro, Mind and Brain (Hackett); Bethel, Handbook (El Corral)
Date
Topic
Read before Class
M, 6-21
W, 6-23
F, 6-25
M, 6-28
W, 6-30
F, 7-2
M, 7-5
W, 7-7
F, 7-9
M, 7-12
W, 7-14
F, 7-16
Introductory remarks
Logic Review
The background of Greek philosophy
The problem of definition
Life and Death
The Cyclical Argument
Independence Day
The Argument from Recollection
The Argument from Affinity
Simmias’ and Cebes’ Objections
Reply to Simmias
Reply to Cebes
M, 7-19
W, 7-21
F, 7-23
Exam I: Plato (45 points)
Background: Early modern thought
Descartes and skepticism
Handbook, “Early Modern Science and Philosophy”
First Meditation; Handbook, Study Questions
M, 7-26
W, 7-28
F, 7-30
The Cartesian self
The Existence of God
Truth and Falsity
Second Meditation; Handbook, Study Questions
Third Meditation; Handbook, Study Questions
Fourth Meditation; Handbook, Study Questions
M, 8-2
W, 8-4
F, 8-6
The Ontological Argument
Fifth Meditation; Handbook, Study Questions
Sense Perception, Physiology, and God Sixth Meditation; Handbook, Study Questions
The Mind-Body Problem
Gennaro, Mind and Brain, “First Night”; Handbook, Study Questions
M, 8-9
W, 8-11
F, 8-13
M, 8-16
W, 8-18
F, 8-20
M, 8-23
W, 8-25
F, 8-27
Interactionism and Materialism
Gennaro, Mind and Brain, “Second Night”; Handbook, Study Questions
Other Minds
Gennaro, Mind and Brain, “Third Night”; Handbook, Study Questions
Exam II: Descartes; Mind and Brain (45 points)
Hume’s Empiricism
Hume, §§ 1, 2, 3; Handbook, Study Questions
Inference, Causation, and Chance
Hume, §§ 4, 5, 6, 9; Handbook, Study Questions
Necessary Connection
Hume, § 7; Handbook, Study Questions
Miracles and God
Hume, §§ 10, 11; Handbook, Study Questions
Liberty and Necessity
Hume, §8; Handbook, Study Questions
The Self and Skepticism
Hume, § 12; Handbook, “An Inconsistency in the Bundle Theory of the Self”;
“Rationalism and Empiricism”.
Handbook, “The Nature of Reasoning”
Handbook, “Greek Philosophy before Socrates”; “Socrates and Plato”; Apology
Euthyphro; Handbook, Study Questions
Phaedo to 69; Handbook, Study Questions; “Plato’s Theories of the Soul”
Phaedo to 73; Handbook, Study Questions
Phaedo to 78b; Meno, 80d-86c; Handbook, Study Questns; “Theory of Forms”
Phaedo to 84b; Handbook, Study Questions
Phaedo to 91c; Handbook, Study Questions
Phaedo to 95a; Handbook, “Nature, Function , & Definition”; Study Questions
Phaedo to 107b; Handbook, Study Questions, “Nature, Function and Def’n.”
Comprehensive Final Examinations--80 points
230-01 (Meets MWF 9:10 a.m. - 10:00 pam. in room 10-222): Final Exam is on Fri, Sept 3, from 4:10 to 7:00 p.m.
230-02 (Meets MWF 10:10 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in room 22-212): Final Exam is on Mon, Aug 30, from 7:10 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
230-03 (Meets MWF 8:10 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. in room 10-222): Final Exam is on Wed, Sept 1, from 4:10 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Grading Policy
Each 45-point exam will have 35 Scantron-graded questions and something for you to write. You will write your essays on the exam
questionnaire, so you won't need a blue book, but be sure to bring a Scantron form 882ES and a number 2 pencil. The final exam
contains 80 Scantron-graded questions, but no essay. In addition to the exams there will be about a dozen unannounced five-minute
quizzes, worth 3 points each. There are no make-up quizzes, but I will drop your lowest two quiz scores. Letter grades on exams
are based on the distribution of numerical scores. Your course grade will be based on the distribution of total numerical scores. There
is no fixed percentage of points for any letter grade (90% isn't necessarily an A, for example), and there is no fixed percentage of
students who will get each letter grade (the whole class could get As or whatever. Usually there are about 15% A, 20% B, and 30% C.
I do give plus/minus grades. You will get an I-grade only if you miss part of the course and it isn't your fault. If you will need to miss
any exam for any university recognized reason, you must let me know beforehand--call me or leave a message for me with the
department secretary. You will get a zero for any exam that you miss without a university-recognized reason.