UWG Philosophy Program

 

 

DESCRIPTION: This course is an historical overview of analytic philosophy, the most widespread and influential movement among Anglo-American philosophers during the 20^th century. We will consider how the most important members of this tradition, including Gottlob Frege, Bertrand Russell, G. E. Moore, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and W. V. O. Quine, attempted to answer questions within metaphysics, epistemology, meta-ethics, and the philosophy of language.

 

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) the following:

·         the various meanings of the phrase “analytic philosophy” and criticisms of analytic philosophy originating in the Continental tradition

·         Frege’s distinction between sense and reference and the problems that distinction was intended to solve

·         Russell’s theory of descriptions and how he believed it solved a number of philosophical puzzles

·         Wittgenstein’s earlier and later views on language

·         the approaches to metaphysics and ontology taken by the Logical Positivists, Carnap and Quine

·         the Realism vs. anti-Realism debate, especially as it concerns the views of Putnam

·         Moore’s defense of common sense

·         Gettier’s criticism of the definition of knowledge as “justified true belief”

·         Moore’s account of “the Naturalistic Fallacy” and his view of goodness as a non-natural property

·         Stevenson’s emotivism and the question whether it entails moral nihilism

·         Smart’s criticisms of the distinction between extreme and restricted utilitarianism

These course-specific learning outcomes contribute to the 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

·         outline critically and analyze philosophical questions

 

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION: The typical class session will consist of about 80% lecture and 20% class discussion. 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.

 

REQUIRED TEXTS

·         Analytic Philosophy: Classic Readings, ed. Steven D. Hales. Wadsworth, 2002.

·         Three readings that are on electronic reserve at the Ingram Library web site (http://www.westga.edu/~library/).

·         Lecture notes. After each class meeting, I will post my own lecture notes for that day on the class web site; students are expected to study these notes on a regular basis.

 

EVALUATION

·         2 in-class examinations (20% each). Mixed format. See course schedule below for tentative dates.

·         Comprehensive final examination (30%). Mixed format. This will cover nearly all of the material we will consider throughout the entire semester.

·         Term paper (30%). Minimum length: 3,000 words. See “Writing a Philosophy Paper” on the course web site. Details about this assignment will be given later in the semester. You must give me a draft on which to comment, by no later than Monday April 6. You may give me the draft at any earlier date.  Your draft should be at least 1,500 words long.

·         Class participation does not contribute to your final grade in any fixed way, but I will consider giving borderline students the next highest grade if their in-class questions and contributions to class discussions warrant my doing so.

·         GRADING SCALE:

100 - 91%  A            90 - 81%  B       80 - 71%  C       70 - 61%  D       60 - 0%  F

 

 

ATTENDANCE, FOOD, CELLPHONES, ETC.

·         I will take attendance at the beginning of each class. 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. 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 class; 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 term paper 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: ANALYTIC PHILOSOPHY (PHIL 4150)

 

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. I 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 me directly.

 

All readings are in Hales, Analytic Philosophy: Classic Readings or on electronic reserve through the library website.

 

Jan.	Topic	reading due	papers due/tests
7 W	What is analytic philosophy?	--
9 F	Analytic vs. continental philosophy	Hales 1-9; 11-12
12 M	Frege, “On Sense and Reference”	Hales 12-13
14 W	Frege, “On Sense and Reference”	Hales 21-23
16 F	Frege, “On Sense and Reference”	Hales 23-25
19 M	MLK HOLIDAY: NO CLASS	--
21 W	Frege, “On Sense and Reference”	--
23 F	Frege, “The Thought”	Hales 93-95
26 M	Frege, “The Thought”	Hales 95-99
28 W	Russell, “On Denoting”	Hales 33-36
30 F	Russell, “On Denoting”	Hales 36-39

 

Feb.	Topic	reading due	papers due/tests
2 M	Russell, “On Denoting”	Hales 39-40
4 W	Wittgenstein, Tractatus	Hales 14-15
6 F	Wittgenstein, Tractatus	On e-reserve: Tractatus §1-2.225
9 M	Wittgenstein, Phil. Investigations	On e-reserve: PI §1-27
11 W	Wittgenstein, Phil. Investigations	Hales 64-67 (§§199-219)
13 F	catch-up & review	--
16 M	--	--	TEST 1
18 W	Introduction to metaphysics	--
20 F	Carnap, “The Elimination of Metaphysics…”	Hales 105-108
23 M	Carnap, “The Elimination of Metaphysics…”	Hales 108-115
25 W	Carnap, “The Elimination of Metaphysics…”	Hales 115-17
27 F	Quine, “On What There Is”	Hales 133-36

 

Mar.	Topic	reading due	papers due/tests
2 M	Quine, “On What There Is”	Hales 133-36	[last day to withdraw]
4 W	Quine, “On What There Is”	Hales 133-36
6 F	Quine, “On What There Is”	Hales 136-39
9 M	Quine, “On What There Is”	Hales 139-41
11 W	Realism vs. anti-realism	On e-reserve: Loux (250-57)
13 F	No class meeting; Dr. Lane at SAAP conference	--
16 M	SPRING BREAK	--
18 W	SPRING BREAK	--
20 F	SPRING BREAK	--
23 M	Quine & the Inscrutability of Reference	On e-reserve: Loux (266-73)
25 W	Putnam’s anti-realism	On e-reserve: Loux (273-79)
27 F	Realism or Anti-Realism?	On e-reserve: Loux (279-90)
30 M	Catch-up / review	--

 

Apr.	Topic	reading due	papers due
1 W	--	--	TEST 2
3 F	Introduction to epistemology	--
6 M	Moore, “A Defense of Common Sense…”	Hales (175-80)
8 W	Moore, “A Defense of Common Sense…”	Hales (180-84)
10 F	No class meeting; Dr. Lane at SSPP conference	--	term paper draft deadline [email submission only]
13 M	Moore, “A Defense of Common Sense…”	Hales (184-86)
15 W	Gettier, “Is Justified Knowledge True Belief?”	Hales (219-220)
17 F	Moore, “On Defining Good”	Hales (314-19)
20 M	Moore, “On Defining Good”	Hales (319-23)
22 W	Stevenson, “The Emotive Meaning of…”	Hales (333-38)
24 F	Stevenson, “The Emotive Meaning of…”	Hales (338-43)
27 M	“Analytic Philosophy” Today	--	term paper deadline [hard copy submission]
29 W	Review / wrap-up	--

 

TEST 3: COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM: Friday May 1, 11am-1pm

 

	IMPORTANT DATES:                January 7-13                Drop/Add and late registration January 30                   Graduation application deadline for summer 2009 March 2                        Last Day to withdraw with grade of "W" April 29                        Last Day of MWF classes April 30                        Reading Day