PHL 230
S (winter)
INTRODUCTION
TO EPISTEMOLOGY
Prof. Fred Wilson
Room 285, University College
Phone: Office: (416) 978-8155
Home: (416) 975-2617
E-MAIL: fwilson@chass.utoronto.ca
web
page: http://individual.utoronto.ca/wilson
We
all aim to know various things, whether we are physicists or gossips. Some of
us even want to know what it is to know. If we have this latter cognitive
interest then we are philosophers. Trying to answer the question, what is it to
know something? is the task of that branch of philosophy known as epistemology.
But as we shall see in this lecture/discussion course, this branch of
philosophy cannot easily be separated from others.
Thus, to know is to grasp the truth,
and if we are to study what it is to know we had better have a sense of what it
is for something to be true. Pilate asked, “What is truth?” but he did not stay
for an answer. Philosophers are not so fortunate: we must try to give an
answer. However, what we say about truth is in good part dependent upon the
metaphysics that we defend. So we are led back from epistemology to truth to
metaphysics, and only then can we return to knowledge. In the end, epistemology
and metaphysics cannot be separated. That means in this course in epistemology
will also being doing a good deal of metaphysics.
A central figure in our discussions
will be Descartes who, in his Meditations on First Philosophy raised the
problem of knowledge – how can we
possibly know anything at all? And more specifically, how can we know that
there are, as one says, things external to us? – explicitly in a metaphysical
context. But our explorations will range backwards and forwards from Descartes
– backwards to Plato (this is where we will start), and forwards to Russell and
Wittgenstein
Textbooks: R. Descartes, Discourse on Method
and Meditations on First Philosophy, trans. D. Cress
G.
Berkeley, Principles of Human Knowledge, ed. Winkler (Hackett)
F.
Wilson, PHL230 Reprotext (Canadian Scholars Press, 180 Bloor St., W., 8th
floor)
Crucial dates: classes start: Jan.
3
Reading
week: Feb. 14-18
drop
day: Mar. 6
classes
end: Apr. 8
exam
period: Apr. 18-May 6
Course requirements:
There will be two essays, and a final examination during the exam period. Class
participation will also be relevant.
The
two essays will be a shorter first essay, and a longer second essay.
The
first essay, about 5 pages long, will be on an assigned topic.
The
second essay will be on a topic that you select. The only requirement is that
it be relevant to the course. They will provide you with an opportunity to show
off your philosophical talents in a context where you feel you can do best.
Whether you have got a grip on the other material in the course will be
revealed on the exam. In due course a list of suggested essay topics will be
provided.
There
will also be a two hour final.
First
essay: about 5 pages: due Feb. 10
Second
essay: 10-12 pages: due Apr. 7
Marking
scheme: first essay: 25%
second essay: 35%
final exam: 40%
This
scheme is not rigid. In particular, if work later in the term is markedly
improved over that from earlier in the term, then that improvement will count
in the student’s favour. For, after all, it will show that the student has
learned something, and the point of taking a course is to learn! But the
converse does not hold: while improved grades will up to a certain extent be
rewarded, apparently declining grades will not be penalized.
Furthermore, the lecturer will
assume that an absolutely disastrous grade on an essay is a mark of the student
not having understood the assignment. Under those circumstances the student
will have the opportunity of re-writing the essay.
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Jan. 4-6, Reprotext, Part I
Introduction
Jan. 11-13: Reprotext, Part II
Being and Knowledge (scientia): Top Half of the Divided Line
Jan. 18-20: ditto
Jan. 25-27: Descartes, Meditations; Reprotext, Part III, secs. 13-17
Montaigne and the Cartesian defence of knowledge as scientia
Feb. 1-3: ditto
Feb. 8-10: Berkeley, Principles, Reprotext, Part III, secs. 19-21
Bayle and Berkeley’s response
Feb. 10: First Essay Due
[ Feb. 15-17 – reading week ]
Feb. 22-24: more Berkeley
Mar. 1-3: Reprotext, Part IV, secs., 29-34
Who/what thinks?
Mar. 6, Drop day
Mar. 8-10: ditto
Mar. 15-17: Reprotext, Part V
Justified true belief: Opinion and knowledge on the bottom half of the divided line
Mar. 22-24: Ditto
Mar. 29-31: Reprotext, Part VI
Is it required that we prove we are sitting in chairs?
Apr. 5 -7: Ditto – review
[ Apr. 7: Second essay due ]
[ Apr. 18-May 6: Exam period ]