Reading Assignments

(Readings from Introduction to Philosophy: Classical and Contemporary Readings (Fourth Edition), edited by Perry, Bratman, and Fischer are listed by selection title, author, and pages numbers (in parentheses). Readings from What Does It All Mean? by Nagel are listed by author and chapter number. Readings from A Rulebook for Arguments by Weston are listed by author and chapter number.)

• For Aug. 27: Read "On the Study of Philosophy" by Perry and Bratman (1-6), "The Value of Philosophy" by Russell (9-12), and Nagel, Chapter 1.
• For Sept. 1: Labor Day! No class, but get started on the reading for 9/3.
• For Sept. 3: Read Apology: Defense of Socrates by Plato (27-42). These Reading Questions can help you focus on some of the main points. (They are just for you, not to hand in--but for discussion everyone should be able to answer at least these questions.) Also, read Weston, Chapters I, II, VI.
• For Sept. 8: Read Plato's Apology again and try to identify and classify (at least as deductive or inductive) arguments presented there.
• For Sept. 10: Read Weston, Chapters III, V, and X. Then read (and re-read) "The Ontological Argument" by Anselm (78-79) and (below Anselm's argument on the webpage) "How Someone Writing on Behalf of the Fool Might Reply to All This" by Gaunilo. You might also want to check out the musical account of Anselm's argument too.
• For Sept. 17: Re-read Gaunilo's reply to Anselm and then read "Meditation V" from Meditations on First Philosophy by Descartes (186-188).
• For Sept. 22: Read "The Existence of God" by Aquinas (80-82). Be sure you can answer these Reading Questions on Gaunilo, Descartes, and Aquinas as well. You might also want to get started on Parts II-V of Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion by Hume (92-105).
• For Sept. 29: Look at these Fallacy Examples and try to identify which (if any) fallacy label best fits each case. (Answers).
• For Oct. 6: Finish reading Parts II-V of Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. Make sure you can answer these Reading Questions on Hume's Dialogues. Start studying for the First Test, which will be on Monday 10/13.
• For Oct. 13: First Test! Bring an exam book to write your test answers in (and bring an extra one for someone who forgets).
• For Oct. 20: Read Nagel, Chapters 2-4, then read "Meditations I-II" by Descartes (171-176). Think about these Reading Questions as well.
• For Oct. 29: Read "Meditations III-IV" by Descartes (176-185).
• For Nov. 3: Read "Some Further Considerations Concerning Our Simple Ideas of Sensation" from An Essay Concerning Human Understanding by John Locke (on-line reading). These Reading Questions (3-5) can help you focus on some important points.
• For Nov. 10: Read Sections II-V from An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding by Hume (225-240). These Reading Questions can help you focus on some important points.
• For Nov. 24: Second Test! Bring an exam book to write your test answers in (and bring an extra one for someone who forgets).
• For Dec. 1: Read Nagel, Ch. 6 and "Has the Self 'Free Will'?" by Campbell (on-line reading). These Reading Questions can help you focus on some important points. For those interested in writing the Optional Paper, read "Evil and Omnipotence," by J.L. Mackie. The paper is due at my office by 3pm on Friday 12/5.
• For Dec. 3: Read "Freedom and Determinism" by Taylor (451-463). These Reading Questions can help you focus on some important points.
• For Dec. 8: Final Exam! Bring an exambook.

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Last updated November 28, 2008

This site is maintained by James A. Woodbridge.

This document was created on August 10, 2008.