UWG Philosophy Program
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PHIL 3120-W sec. 01 AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY (3 hours) Fall Semester 2009 MWF 1pm-1:50pm Prerequisites: PHIL 2100, ENGL 1101 and ENGL 1102; or permission of instructor Classroom: Humanities 209 Web site: http://www.westga.edu/~rlane/american Email: rlane@westga.edu* |
Instructor: Dr. Robert Lane, TLC 2247 Office Hours: M: 9-9:45am; 12-12:45; 2-3:30pm W: 9-9:45am; 2-3:30pm F: 9-9:45am; 12-12:45; 2-3pm and by appointment My office telephone:
(678) 839-4745 |
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*All email communication must be conducted from your official UWG email account, accessible via MyUWG. |
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This is a Discipline Specific Writing (DSW) course, fulfilling one of two DSW requirements for the College of Arts and Sciences. All DSW courses require that students write a minimum of 4,000 words across multiple assignments, not including revisions. There will be multiple written assignments that will be evaluated for subject matter, grammar, spelling, thoroughness, and organization, among other things.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: What is truth? What is the best way for me to form beliefs about the world? Is absolute certainty possible, or must we be satisfied with beliefs that are not certain? If there is no solid evidence for or against the existence of God, is it legitimate to believe that God exists? What is philosophy, and what is its relationship with science? This course tackles those questions and others by examining how they were treated by the thinkers who founded pragmatism, America's distinctive philosophical tradition. In particular, we will study the works of three classical American pragmatists: Charles Peirce, William James, and John Dewey. We will also study the work of three more recent pragmatists: Sidney Hook, Hilary Putnam, and Richard Rorty.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of the semester, each student will be able to identify, describe, ask questions concerning, and critically discuss (in both oral and written communications) selected positions and theories in the history of American philosophy, including:
· Peirce's criticism of Cartesianism; his views on belief, truth and reality, including his account of various methods of "fixing" belief; his Pragmatic Maxim; and his pragmatic account of truth.
· James's doctrine of the Will to Believe (as well as Clifford's views on the ethics of belief); his Pragmatic Method; and his pragmatic view of truth.
· Dewey's pragmatic theory of knowledge; his pragmatic theory of truth; and his view of the connections between philosophy and democracy.
· Hook’s naturalism and his application of pragmatist ideas to questions concerning science and inquiry.
· Putnam’s neo-pragmatist views on truth and reality and how he was influenced by James and Dewey,
· Rorty's so-called "vulgar pragmatism," including his views on epistemology and metaphysics.
These course-specific learning outcomes contribute to the departmental learning outcomes of the Philosophy Program by enabling students better to discuss the general historical development of the discipline of philosophy and selected major historical figures in philosophy; ask philosophical questions; incorporate philosophical positions in oral and written communications; and outline critically and analyze philosophical questions.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION: Although this is a lecture class, class discussion will be encouraged. Lectures are intended to elucidate and provide supplementary information relevant to the reading assignments and to form the basis for a vigorous class discussion of the arguments and theories at hand. Reading assignments will be made on a regular basis. In order to benefit fully from lectures and to participate meaningfully in class discussion, it is a must that you do the reading when it is assigned.
READING:
· Pragmatism, Old and New, ed. Susan Haack, Prometheus Books, 2006 ($32). [required]
EVALUATION:
· Three in-class examinations (10% each; 30% total). Mixed format.
· In-class comprehensive final examination (20%). Mixed format.
· Four response papers (5% each; 20% total). Minimum of 500 words each.*
· Term paper (30%). 2000 word minimum.*
· GRADING SCALE:
100 - 91% A 90 - 81% B 80 - 71% C 70 - 61% D 60 - 0% F
*Details about these assignments will be given later in the semester.
ATTENDANCE, FOOD, CELLPHONES, ETC.
· You may miss six class meetings with no effect on your grade. Beginning with your seventh absence, you will lose three points from your final average for every class meeting you miss. This policy applies to the first week of class, even for days on which you have not yet registered for the class. I will make exceptions for absences necessitated by UWG-sponsored events or by other circumstances that were absolutely outside your control. However, I will make these exceptions only if ALL of your absences can be accounted for in one of these ways (e.g., if you miss seven classes and you have documented, acceptable reasons for missing only six classes, then your seventh absence will still count against you). Documentation will be required in all cases in which I make an exception to this absence policy.
· Students who miss 12 or more class meetings (four weeks, or one month, worth of classes) will not earn a passing grade in this course. In this case the reason for your absences is irrelevant. If you are unable to attend class for a month due to medical reasons, a family emergency, or any other reason, you should withdraw from the course; if the withdrawal date has passed, you should apply for a hardship withdrawal.
· An early departure or late arrival may be counted as an absence, depending on the circumstances. I will decide in each case whether an early departure or a late arrival counts as an absence. If you know before class that you will not be able to stay for the entire class session, please inform me of this before class and sit as close to the door as possible, so as to cause as small a distraction as possible when you leave.
· Leaving the classroom while class is in session (e.g., to visit the restroom) is both disrespectful and distracting. Do not leave the room during class unless it is absolutely essential that you do so.
· Do not study material from other classes while this class is in session. While you are in this class, I expect your attention to be focused on it rather than on your other courses.
· Please do not eat when class is in session; drinks are OK.
· Turn off all cell phones and other noise-making electronic devices before class begins.
MISSED TESTS / LATE PAPERS / EXTRA CREDIT:
· If you know that you will need to miss class on a day on which a test is scheduled (for example, due to a UWG sponsored event), you must let me know about your absence as far in advance as possible so that we can schedule another day and time for you to take the test (or a make-up test). If you miss a test without receiving my explicit permission beforehand and making arrangements for a make-up test, you will be permitted to take a make-up test if and only if one of the following conditions applies: (a) Your absence was due to illness or injury serious enough to require professional medical care and which prevented you from contacting me before the test; or (b) Your absence was due to other extenuating circumstances beyond your control. I will determine on a case-by-case basis what constitutes "extenuating circumstances beyond your control." You may be required to provide documentation pertaining to your absence before you are allowed to take a make-up test. Make-up tests will usually be longer and potentially more difficult than the original test that you missed.
· You may turn in your writing assignments late ONLY IF you have made arrangements with me beforehand and I have given you explicit permission.
· Extra-credit work will not be given under any circumstances. Work completed for other courses will not be accepted in this course.
RELEVANT INFORMATION FROM THE UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG:
· "each student is responsible for everything which happens in class and is responsible for making specific arrangements with the instructor for the work missed, including that missed during illness or university-sponsored activities"
· "any student who is unable to continue attendance in class should either drop the course, withdraw from the University, or make appropriate arrangements with the instructors"
· "any student who must be absent for more than three successive days is required to notify the Student Development Center, Parker Hall, telephone 770-836-6428."
· "Students who do not intend to remain in a course must drop the course before the end of the official drop/add period. Failure to drop a course during the drop/add period may result in grades of F in courses not attended."
· Academic Honor. "At West Georgia, the student is expected to achieve and maintain the highest standards of academic honesty and excellence. Not only does academic honesty preserve the integrity of both the student and the institution, but it is also essential in gaining a true education. The West Georgia student, therefore, pledges not to lie, cheat or steal in the pursuit of his or her studies and is encouraged to report those who do." Students who commit plagiarism (using someone else’s words or ideas without attribution of credit) will receive an “F” for the entire course and may be reported to the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs for additional action.
COURSE SCHEDULE: AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY (PHIL 3120)
THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE IS TENTATIVE AND MAY CHANGE AS THE SEMESTER PROGRESSES. THIS INCLUDES TEST DATES AND DUE DATES FOR PAPERS, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. If the class finds a specific topic especially interesting and/or difficult, then we may spend more than the allotted time on that topic. Dr. Lane will maintain an up-to-date version of the course schedule on the class web site. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to keep up with test dates, due dates, and reading assignments, either by checking the class web site or contacting Dr. Lane directly.
All readings are from Haack (ed.), Pragmatism, Old and New.
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Aug. |
topic |
reading due |
tests/papers due |
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14 F |
Introduction to the course |
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17 M |
Introduction to pragmatism |
-- |
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19 W |
Peirce: Anti-Cartesianism |
"Some Consequences..." (69-72) |
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21 F |
Peirce: Anti-Cartesianism |
"Some Consequences..." (69-72) |
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24 M |
Peirce: Belief, Doubt and Inquiry |
"The Fixation of Belief" (107-15) |
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26 W |
Peirce: Methods of Fixing Belief |
"The Fixation of Belief" (115-22) |
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28 F |
Peirce: The Scientific Method & Realism |
"The Fixation of Belief" (115-26) |
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31 M |
Peirce: The Pragmatic Maxim |
"How to Make Our Ideas Clear" (127-38) |
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Sept. |
Topic |
reading |
tests/papers due |
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2 W |
Peirce: The Pragmatic Maxim |
"How to Make Our Ideas Clear" (138-47) |
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4 F |
Peirce: The Pragmatic Maxim |
"How to Make Our Ideas Clear" (147-50) |
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7 M |
NO CLASS: LABOR DAY HOLIDAY |
-- |
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9 W |
review/catch-up |
-- |
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11 F |
-- |
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TEST #1 |
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14 M |
James: Introduction. The Will to Believe. |
-- |
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16 W |
James: The Will to Believe |
"The Will to Believe" (221-29) |
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18 F |
James: The Will to Believe |
"The Will to Believe" (230-46) |
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21 M |
James: The Pragmatic Method |
"What Pragmatism Means" (289-95) |
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23 W |
James: Pragmatism About Truth |
"What Pragmatism Means" (295-301) |
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25 F |
James: Pragmatic Theism |
"What Pragmatism Means" (301-307) |
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28 M |
James: Truth and Knowledge |
"Pragmatism's Conception of Truth" (309-15) |
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30 W |
James: Truth and Knowledge |
"Pragmatism's Conception of Truth" (315-28) |
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Oct. |
topic |
reading |
tests/papers due |
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2 F |
review/catch-up |
-- |
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5 M |
-- |
-- |
TEST #2 |
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7 W |
Dewey: Introduction |
-- |
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9 F |
Dewey: Knowledge |
“The Quest for Certainty” (379-84) |
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12 M |
Dewey: Knowledge |
“The Quest for Certainty” (384-94) |
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14 W |
Dewey: Truth |
“Truth and Consequences” (341-52) |
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16 F |
NO CLASS: FALL BREAK |
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19 M |
Dewey: Truth |
“Truth and Consequences” (352-55) |
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21 W |
Dewey: Truth |
“Truth and Consequences” (355-61) |
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23 F |
Dewey: Democracy |
“Philosophy and Democracy” (363-71) |
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26 M |
Dewey: Democracy |
“Philosophy and Democracy” (371-78) |
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28 W |
review/catch-up |
-- |
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30 F |
-- |
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TEST #3 |
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Nov. |
topic |
Reading |
tests/papers due |
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2 M |
Hook: Naturalism |
“Naturalism & First Principles” (529-40) |
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4 W |
Hook: Naturalism |
“Naturalism & First Principles” (540-48) |
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6 F |
Hook: Naturalism |
“Naturalism & First Principles” (548-56) |
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9 M |
Putnam: Truth and Reality |
"Is There Still Anything to Say" (621-28) |
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11 W |
Putnam: Truth and Reality |
"Is There Still Anything to Say" (628-32) |
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13 F |
Putnam: Echoes of James & Dewey |
-- |
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16 M |
Rorty's "vulgar pragmatism" |
"Pragmatism, Relativism & ...” (635-40) |
term paper (draft) |
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18 W |
Rorty's "vulgar pragmatism" |
"Pragmatism, Relativism & ...” (640-43) |
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20 F |
Rorty's "vulgar pragmatism" |
"Pragmatism, Relativism & ...” (643-54) |
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23 M |
Rorty's "vulgar pragmatism" |
“Pragmatism as Anti-...” (657-67) |
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25 W |
NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING |
-- |
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27 F |
NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING |
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30 M |
Rorty's "vulgar pragmatism" |
“Pragmatism as Anti-...” (667-72) |
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Dec. |
topic |
Reading |
tests/papers due |
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2 W |
Peirce and Rorty in conversation |
“We Pragmatists” (675-95) |
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4 F |
Review/catch-up |
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term paper (final) |
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11 F |
TEST #4: FINAL EXAM (11am - 1pm) |
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IMPORTANT
DATES: August 14-19 Drop/Add and late
registration October 6 Last
Day to withdraw with grade of "W" December 4 Last
Day of Regular Class