Spring 2016

Monday/Wednesday 12:45 2:10pm

Philo 101
Introduction to Philosophy
Section: 7542

Instructor: Jennifer Smith

E-Mail: smithje@mjc.edu
Website: philosophyclass.weebly.com
Office Hours: By Appointment only

Overview

Required Materials

This course examines some of the central problems of philosophy, using both
contemporary readings and historical texts. Students will be introduced to
philosophys tool kit as well as its greatest hits. Topics include: epistemology,
personal identity, human knowledge and the philosophy of mind. Further details
are contained in the syllabus below. There are no prerequisites for this class.

An Introduction to Philosophy: Classical

and Contemporary Readings. Sixth
Edition. John Perry, Michael Bratman
and John Martin Fischer.
ISBN: 978-0-19-981299-8

Important Dates

Goals

Analyze and evaluate the issues and possible solutions to the "Great
Questions" asked by philosophers.
Synthesize a world view based on an array of the possible solutions to
the "Great Questions" asked by philosophers. Construct arguments in support of, and in opposition to, the
worldviews generated by the possible solutions to the questions asked
by philosophers.

Requirements
o
o
o
o
o

Participation and Homework: 10%

Midterm Exam: 25%
Final Exam: 25%
Knowledge and Reality Paper: 20%
Minds, Bodies and Persons Paper: 20%

January 11, 2016

Spring Classes Begin

January 18, 2016

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

February 12, 2016

Lincoln Holiday
February 15, 2016

Washington Holiday
April 30, 2016

Spring Classes End

Late Work and Makeup Exams

I do not accept late papers or give makeup exams. You will be informed in
class well in advance of each deadline and exam date and I will remind you
frequently. Should you miss class, it is your responsibility to find out what was
missed and know when papers are due.

Introduction to Philosophy
Section: 7542

Class Policies:
PLAGIARISM: If you plagiarize work in this class you will receive a zero for that assignment and perhaps an F in the class at my discretion. I
may also report the infraction to the vice president of instruction at Modesto Junior College. The most common form of plagiarism is taking
articles, papers, or selections from a website-based source and presenting it as your own work or having another student write a paper for you.
Don't plagiarize!
CELL PHONES & LAPTOPS: unless the phone call is from me, I ask you to turn off your cell phones before entering class. No texting, no
emailing, no surfing, no movies, no music while in class. It's rude to me, it's rude to others, and it's usually obvious to everyone around you,
including me. No laptop use while in class, unless you sit in the front row.
EATING: you may eat in class if your food intake is minimal. Please do not bring noisy food to class.
OFFICE HOURS: If you are having difficulties in the course, come speak with me as soon as possible! Although I do not offer office hours, I
am available after class for extra help. I am also happy to arrange another time, or help via email.
ATTENDANCE: I reserve the right to drop students who have not attended for 3 consecutive class sessions as measured by HW and in-class
exercises.
STUDENT DISABILITIES: I will make every effort to work with students with disabilities. If you have a learning or other disability you
should let me know and as well sign up with the MJC Disability Services Center if you have not already done so. Disability Services will assist
students with disabilities in participating in college activities, securing financial aid, scheduling classes and examinations, and planning careers.
MJC Disability Services are located on the East Campus in the Journalism Building 160 behind Founders Hall. Phone: (209) 575-6225; TTY:
(209) 575-6863
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: Do not come to class late. Do not leave early. (Unless prior understanding has been made)
ADD/DROP: It is your responsibility, as a student, to officially enroll in the class.

Schedule:
What follows is a tentative schedule, subject to revision over the course of the term. There is a 0% chance that well do exactly this, in exactly
this order.

Introduction to Philosophy
Section: 7542

January 11
(Monday)
January 13
(Wednesday)

Classroom Topic:
Introduction to Class
Review Syllabus
Socrates

Reading Due that Day:

Plato: Apology: The Defense of Socrates

January 18
(Monday)
January 20
(Wednesday)

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - No Class

Knowledge and Reality: Plato and the Concept
of Knowledge

Plato: Theaetetus

January 25
(Monday)
January 27
(Wednesday)

Knowledge and Reality: Descartes and the

Problems of Skepticism
Knowledge and Reality: Descartes and the
Problems of Skepticism

Rene Descartes: Meditation on First Philosophy

(Read the Meditations 1-2)
Rene Descartes: Meditation on First Philosophy
(Read the Meditations 3-4)

February 1
(Monday)
February 3
(Wednesday)

Knowledge and Reality: Descartes and the

Problems of Skepticism
Knowledge and Reality: Descartes and the
Problems of Skepticism

Rene Descartes: Meditation on First Philosophy

(Read the Meditations 5-6)
Christopher Grau: Bad Dreams, Evil Demons,
and the Experience Machine: Philosophy and the
Matrix

February 8
(Monday)
February 10
(Wednesday)

Knowledge and Reality

(Class Website) John Locke: The Casual Theory of

Perception
(Class Website) George Berkeley: Of the Principles of
Human Knowledge

February 15
(Monday)
February 17
(Wednesday)

Washington Holiday No Class

Knowledge and Reality: Humes Problems and
Some Solutions

David Hume: Of Skepticism with Regard to the Senses

February 22
(Monday)
February 24
(Wednesday)

Knowledge and Reality: Humes Problems and

Some Solutions
Knowledge and Reality: Humes Problems and
Some Solutions

David Hume: An Enquiry Concerning Human

Understanding
Salmon: The Problem of Induction

February 29
(Monday)
March 2
(Wednesday)

Catch up Day

March 7
(Monday)
March 9
(Wednesday)

Exam #2
Introduction to Mind/Body Dualism

Introduction to Minds, Bodies and Persons (239244)

March 14
(Monday)
March16
(Wednesday)

Minds, Bodies, and Persons: The Traditional

Problem of Mind and Body
Minds, Bodies, and Persons: The Traditional
Problem of Mind and Body

Bertrand Russell: The Argument from Analogy for

Other Minds
Gilbert Ryle: Descartes Myth
Analytical Behaviorism Chapter Reading (Class
Website)

Knowledge and Reality

Review for Exam

Introduction to Philosophy
Section: 7542

March 21
(Monday)
March 23
(Wednesday)

Minds, Bodies, and Persons: The Traditional

Problem of Mind and Body
Minds, Bodies, and Persons: The Traditional
Problem of Mind and Body

No Additional Readings

March 28
(Monday)
March 30
(Wednesday)

Minds, Bodies, and Persons: The Traditional

Problem of Mind and Body
Minds, Bodies, and Persons: The Traditional
Problem of Mind and Body

Daniel Dennett: Intentional States

April 4
(Monday)

Minds, Bodies, and Persons: The Traditional

Problem of Mind and Body

April 6
(Wednesday)

Minds, Bodies, and Persons: Minds, Brains and

Machines

Frank Jackson: What Mary Didn't Know

Franck Jackson: Epiphenomenal Qualia (Class
Website)
A.M. Turing: Computing Machinery and Intelligence

April 11
(Monday)
April 13
(Wednesday)

Minds, Bodies, and Persons: Minds, Brains and

Machines
Minds, Bodies, and Persons: Personal Identity

John R. Searle: Minds, Brains, and Programs

April 18
(Monday)
April 20
(Wednesday)

Minds, Bodies, and Persons: Personal Identity

To Be Determined

David M. Armstrong: The Nature of Mind

Paul M. Churchland: Eliminative Materialism

To Be Determined

Review For exam

April 25
(Wednesday)

Introduction to Philosophy
Section: 7542

Final Exam

Final Exam 1pm