Fall Semester, 2009
Philosophy 110--Introduction to Philosophy
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 11:00-12:15 pm
308 Comer Hall
Required Text: The Problems of Philosophy, Bertrand Russell
The dates and assignments contained in this syllabus are presented as a guide only. Actual dates and assignments may vary due to unforeseen occurrences.
| Date | Text Assignment | Reserve/Web Readings | Homework |
| Week 1 8/31-9/4 |
XIV The Limits of Philosophical Knowledge XV The Value of Philosophy I Appearance and Reality II The Existence of Matter |
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| Week 2 9/7-9/11 |
I Appearance and Reality II The Existence of Matter |
Descartes's Meditations on First Philosophy | |
| Week 3 9/14-9/18 |
III The Nature of Matter IV Idealism |
Berkeley's Principles of Human Knowledge | Paper 1 due |
| Week 4 9/21-9/25 |
V Knowledge by Acquaintance and Knowledge by Description VI On Induction |
Berkeley's Three Dialogues | |
| Week 5 9/28-10/2 |
Free Will Handout | ||
| Week 6 10/5-10/9 |
VII Our Knowledge of General Principles | Hume's An Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding |
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| Week 7 10/12-10/16 |
Hune's A Treatise of Human Nature | Paper 2 due | |
| Week 8 10/19-10/23 |
VIII How A Priori Knowledge is Possible |
Midterm This Week |
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| Week 9 10/26-10/30 |
IX The World of Universals X On Our Knowledge of Universals |
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| Week 10 11/2-11/6 |
The Existence of God | Hume's Dialogues | |
| Week 11 11/9-11/13 |
Handout on the Arguments More on Evil |
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| Week 12 11/16-11/20 |
Paper 3 due | ||
| Week 13 11/23-11/27 |
XI On Intuitive Knowledge |
No class after 1:50 on Tuesday | |
| Week 14 11/31-12/4 |
XII Truth and Falsehood | ||
| Week 15 11/1-12/5 |
XIII Knowledge, Error, and Probable Opinion | Kant: Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysic | |
| Week 16 12/7-12/11 |
The End | FINALS 12/14-12/18 |