PHIL 114        Philosophical Issues: Nature and God

 

 

 

Instructor:      Jim Behuniak                           Meeting:          Miller 008

Semester:        Fall, 2006                                                        TR 9:30-10:45

Office:             Lovejoy 252                            Contact:          Jim.Behuniak@colby.edu

Hours:                         Tues. & Thurs. 2:30-3:30;                               859-4559

Weds. 1:30-3:30 (or by appointment)

 

 

Course Description:

 

This course offers an introduction to western philosophy approached through issues in the philosophy of religion.  Our focus will be on "metaphysical" and "epistemological" questions. For example: How did the universe come into being?  Does it have a plan?  Do eternal objects exist?  Is there a God?  Through what method, if any, can we obtain certainty about such things?  What makes a proposition true?  What is the function of reason?  What is the relationship between mind and body?  Do we have souls that are eternal?

 

This course is structured chronologically.  It is designed to introduce you to the history of western philosophy.  The issues covered, however, are not merely historical; they are perennial.  Thus, we will examine critically the methods and positions encountered.  We will also relate our readings to current debates in American society, such as those over the teaching of "Intelligent Design" vs. Evolution and the cultural roles of religion and science in general.

 

Required Texts:

 

Trials of Socrates, Plato et al., trans. C.D.C. Reeve (Hackett)

Plato's Republic, Plato, trans. C.D.C. Reeve (Hackett)

Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes, trans. D. A. Cress (Hackett)

Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, Hume (Penguin)

Pragmatism, James (Hackett)

 

Required E-Reserves:

 

Anselm and the Fool

 

Bonaventure and Aquinas

 

Bacon

 

Whitehead

 

Assignments, Polices, Responsibilities, and Grades:

 

You will have two exams: a mid-term and a final, both of which will be taken in class using a blue book.  You will also have three short papers due on topics to be announced.  Each exam and each paper is worth 20% of your final grade (5x20 = 100%).  Papers are to be between 1500 and 2000 words in length (approximately 5-7 pages).  No late papers will be accepted without serious cause (i.e. critical emergency or illness).

 

You are responsible for all reading assignments on the dates indicated.  Study questions are provided to prepare you for each class meeting.  I will expect you to be prepared to discuss the study questions in class.

 

At any time, there may be a "pop quiz" on your daily reading, administered at the start of class.  In the event of a pop quiz, your grade on the quiz will be tallied into your grade on the next exam, serving as 10% of that grade.  Leading up to an exam, there may be any number of pop quizzes (from 0 to 10).  In the event that there are 10 (extremely unlikely), an exam is cancelled.  In the event of absence without a valid excuse, a pop quiz cannot be made up; in the event of absence with valid excuse, it can be.  See Colby's Attendance and Absence Policy for what "valid" means. 

 

It is your responsibility to come to class (again, see Colby's Attendance and Absence Policy).  Know that missing even one class will negatively affect your performance on exams and papers, as well as entail the risk of missing a pop quiz.  I will take note of attendance.  If problems arise,  I may issue you an academic warning and set the condition that each subsequent absence without a valid excuse as defined in Colby's Policy will lower your final grade by up to one full letter.  Attending class on-time is also your responsibility.  If tardiness becomes a problem, again there may be a warning and similar conditions set.

 

If you experience difficulties, feel the need to confirm your understanding of the material, or just want to talk with me about something, do not hesitate to visit me during my office hours.  If I am busy with others, or if you are unable to make my office hours, contact me and we will arrange an alternate time to meet.

 

The material in this course can be demanding.  When reading philosophy, it is sometimes necessary to read something two or three times in order to grasp what is being said.  Know that you are capable of understanding all of the material assigned, but that it will sometimes require your full effort to do so.  If you find yourself still puzzled after several readings, formulate questions and bring them to class.

 

Do not miss class.  If you must, be sure to keep up with the reading and to find out if you missed any important announcements or handouts.  In the event of an excused absence (due to critical emergency or illness), I will be happy to meet with you to discuss the class that you missed.  It will be assumed that you have done the reading in advance of such a meeting.

 

If you are diagnosed with a learning difference, you are entitled to all necessary accommodations. For more information, contact Associate Dean of Students Mark Serdjenian (x4255).  Such needs can only be accommodated as directed by his office.

 

Please familiarize yourself with Colby's policy on Academic Honesty, contained in the Student Handbook.  Any form of plagiarism will result in an immediate "F" in this course and may result in further actions as outlined in the policy.  If you are unsure about the propriety of something in relation to Colby's policy, feel free to discuss it with me.

Schedule of Readings, Due Dates, and Study Questions:

 

 

R          9/7                   Intro

 

 

T          9/12                 Trials of Socrates, pp. 3-25

 

            Questions:       1) What does Socrates want from Euthyphro?

 

                                    2) Does Socrates provide to Euthyphro a service?

 

 

R          9/14                 Trials of Socrates, pp. 84-176

 

Questions:       1) How does Aristophanes relate the culture/nature (nomos/phusis)

    distinction to the Socratic mission?

 

2) What does the soup example demonstrate (pg. 112)?

 

 

T          9/19                 Trials of Socrates, pp. 26-61

 

            Questions:       1) What is "Wisdom" for Socrates?  Does it make sense?

 

                                    2) How does Socrates defend himself against the charge that he corrupts

    the youth?  Is it a good defense?

 

 

R          9/21                 Trials of Socrates, pp. 62-83

 

            Questions:       1) How does Socrates see himself in relation to Athens?

 

                                    2) What is Socrates' assessment of majority rule?

 

                                    3) Are Socrates' attitudes consistent with his actions?

 

 

T          9/26                 Republic, Bk. 1 pp. 1-35                                  (PAPER ONE DUE)

 

            Questions:       1) What is Justice according to Socrates?  How does it relate to the

    notion of "Craft" (techne)?

 

2) What is Justice according to Thrasymachus?  Do you agree with him?  

How would you argue against him?

 

 

R          9/28                 Republic, Bk. 2 pp. 36-65; (SKIM: Bk. 3 pp. 66-102)

 

            Questions:       1) What does Gyges' ring (pg. 38) demonstrate?

 

                                    2) What is the class structure of the Ideal City?

 

 

 

T          10/3                 Republic, Bk. 4 pp. 103-135

 

            Questions:       1) What is Justice in the Ideal City?

 

                                    2) What are the parts of the Soul (psyche)?

 

 

R          10/5                 Republic, (SKIM: Bk. 5 pp. 136-164); READ: Bk. 5 pp. 165-175;

   (SKIM: Bk. 6 pp. 176-197); READ: Bk. 6 pp. 198-207

 

            Questions:       1) How does the philosopher approach Beauty?

 

                                    2) What is the Good?  How does it function?

 

                                    3) What does the Line represent (pp. 205-207)?

 

 

T          10/10               Republic, Bk. 7 pp. 208-237

 

            Questions:       1) What does the Cave represent?

 

                                    2) How does the Cave relate to the Line?

 

 

R          10/12               Republic, Bk. 8 pp. 238-269; (SKIM: Bks. 9&10 pp. 270-326)

 

            Questions:       1) How do various forms of government relate to the Line, the Cave, and

    the Soul?

 

 

T          10/17               FALL BREAK

 

 

R          10/19               MID-TERM EXAM

 

 

T          10/24               E-Reserve: Anselm and the Fool

 

            Questions:       1) What are the attributes of God?  What is God like?

 

                                    2) How does Anselm demonstrate that God exists?  Do you find his

    argument convincing?  Why or why not?

 

 

R          10/26               E-Reserve: Bonaventure and Aquinas

 

            Questions:       1) What does it mean for an idea to be "indubitable"?  Is this possible?

 

2) How does Aquinas' fifth argument differ from the other four?

 

 

 

 

 

T          10/31               E-Reserve: Bacon; Meditations, pp. 1-4

 

            Questions:       1) What is Bacon's method for advancing knowledge?

 

                                    2) What are the "Four Classes of Idols"?

 

 

R          11/2                 Meditations, Med. 1-2 pp. 13-24

 

Questions:       1) What motivates Descartes doubt?  Is it possible to doubt as he does?

 

2) What does the wax example demonstrate?

 

 

T          11/7                 Meditations, Med. 3-4 pp. 24-42

 

            Questions:       1) How does Descartes prove the existence of God?  Do you find his

                                        argument convincing?  If not, why not?

 

                                    2) According to Descartes, what is the cause of Error?

 

 

R          11/9                 Meditations, Med. 5-6 pp. 42-59

 

            Questions:       1) What is Descartes' argument for the separation of mind and body?

    Are you convinced?

 

                                    2) What is Descartes' argument for the existence of external bodies? 

    Are you convinced?

 

 

T          11/14               Dialogues, Bks. 1-3 pp. 37-68                         (PAPER TWO DUE)

 

            Questions:       1) According to Philo, what are the problems with Cleanthes' argument

    for the existence of God?

 

2) How does Demea react to Cleanthes' argument?  Why do you think he

    responds in this way?

 

 

R          11/16               Dialogues, Bks. 4-8 pp. 69-97

 

            Questions:       1) How is Philo's argument on pp. 71-74 different from Cleanthes'

                                        argument?  How is it similar?

 

2) In Bk. 5, what four things does Philo say can we infer about a designer

    (as cause) by analogy with the world (as effect)?

 

                                    3) How does Philo's skepticism compare, in nature and in function, to

Descartes' skepticism?

 

 

 

T          11/21               Dialogues, Bks. 9-12 pp. 98-139                                

                                   

Questions:       1) How does Cleanthes respond (in Bk. 11) to Philo's presentation of the

                            problem of evil (in Bk. 10)?

 

                        2) According to Philo, how do certain forms of religion work against the

                            betterment of humankind?  Do you agree?

 

                        3) What is the relationship between skepticism and religion, according to

                            Philo?  Do you agree?         

 

 

R          11/23               THANKSGIVING

 

 

T          11/28               Pragmatism, Ch. 2 pp. 25-39 & Ch. 3 pp. 43-57

 

            Questions:       1) What is Pragmatism, as a method?

                                    2) What is Pragmatism, as a theory of what is meant by "Truth"?

                        3) Why, according to James, is the notion of "Design" in nature a "blank

                             cartridge" pragmatically-speaking?

 

 

R          11/30               Pragmatism, Ch. 6 pp. 91-105 & Ch. 8 pp. 123-134

 

            Questions:       1) James claims that "truth happens to an idea" and that truth lives "on a

                                        credit system."  How is this different from a "static" notion of truth?

                                    2) How does James feel about the notion that truth "copies" reality?

                                    3) What is "meliorism" and how does this idea factor into James'

                                        conception of God?

 

 

T          12/5                 E-Reserve: Whitehead

 

            Questions:       1) What is the "Art of Life" according to Whitehead?  How does it relate

                                        to the theory of evolution?

                                    2) What does Whitehead mean by the "Ways of Blindness, Transience,

                                        and Rhythm"?  Can you think of examples of each?

 

                                    3) What does it mean to say that Reason "saves the world"?

 

 

R          12/7                 Wrap-Up and Review                                     (PAPER THREE DUE)

 

 

Exam Week:                FINAL EXAM