1200 Academy St. Kalamazoo, MI 49006

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Philosophy Department

PROFESSOR: Jennifer Case
Philosophy Department, Kalamazoo College. Humphrey House #201
Office Hours: 9:30-11 MWTh or by appointment.
Class Hour: 3 (3:00 MWF, 2:10-3:50 Th)
DE 104

Theory of knowledge, or epistemology, investigates the nature and scope of knowledge and the justification of claims to knowledge. In this course, we will study a number of the classic and contemporary theories of knowledge of Western philosophical tradition.
Our readings include selections from the writings of ancient Greek philosopher Plato and modern philosophers Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume. These classic writings establish and sustain a traditional philosophical dichotomy between rationalism and empiricism. We will discuss this dichotomy and some of the responses it has provoked from philosophers, including Kant's "transcendental" response. In the latter portion of the course, we will examine some of the work in epistemology done by nineteenth and twentieth century philosophers James, Austin, Quine, and Rorty.

Our study of theories of knowledge will lead us to confront and explore perennial problems involving skepticism, the concept of truth, meaning, rationality, and the nature of reality. To some degree, these problems are the creations of the traditions we have inherited; we will discuss the extent to which they constrain us and the extent to which we may be capable of overcoming or dissolving them. Cognitive skills practiced and cultivated in this course will prepare students to think, speak, and write clearly, critically, and constructively about both theoretical and practical problems.


REQUIRED MATERIALS

Potter, Vincent G., ed. Readings in Epistemology. New York: Fordham
University Press, 1993.

Quine, W. V., and J. S. Ullian. The Web of Belief, second ed. New York:
Random House, 1970.

Course packet:
Plato. Excerpts from The Republic of Plato, Fancis M. Cornford, trans.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1941.
James, William. "Pragmatism's Conception of Truth", Lecture VI from
Pragmatism. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1975.
Austin, J. L. "Other Minds" from Philosophical Papers, third ed. Oxford:
Clarendon Press, 1979.

Rorty, Richard. "Pragmatism and Philosophy" from Consequences of
Pragmatism. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1982.


ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

(1) Presentation (25%). By Friday of the first week, I will assign you to a group of 3 or 4 (?) students. This group will prepare and give a presentation on a date I assign. Presentations will run for 50 minutes apiece, and all but two will take place during the first or second half of a double block. There will be a total of 8 presentations, each of which will address the work of a single philosopher: Descartes on 4/4, Locke on 4/11, Berkeley on 4/17, Hume on 4/19, James on 5/9, Quine on 5/16, Quine again on 5/23, and Rorty on 5/30. Each presentation should be designed to address the following questions: About what is [your philosopher's name] right? About what is [your philosopher's name] wrong? I'll evaluate the contribution of each group member. More on presentations later.

(2) Response paper (20%). You have seven opportunities to submit one 3-5 page paper responding to a presentation given by a group of your classmates. Your response paper should be a critical review -- it should express agreement and/or disagreement with the presenters' interpretation and/or evaluation of the material in question, and it should contain arguments to support the position(s) it sets forth. Each response paper is due on the Monday following the presentation it addresses (except for the Hume response paper, which is due on Wednesday, April 24). I will not accept late papers. You may submit more than one response paper, and I will use only the highest grade you receive.

(3) Midterm exam (20%). OnThursday, May 2, there will be an in-class midterm exam covering material from the first six weeks of the course. The exam will include short-answer and essay questions. I will provide more information about this exam as the quarter progresses.

(4) Final exam (30%). There will be a comprehensive final exam during the scheduled exam period at the end of the quarter. As will the midterm exam, the final exam will include short-answer and essay questions.

(5) Participation (5%). I expect you to read the assigned texts, come to class, and participate in class discussions. There will be some days on which I do much of the talking and some days on which you and your classmates do much of it.



Any student with a disability who needs assistance with these assignments or other accommodations in this course should make an appointment to speak with me as soon as possible.


COURSE CALENDAR

The names and numbers on the calendar refer to our readings. 'Potter' refers to Vincent Potter's Readings in Epistemology. The parenthetical 'cp' refers to our course packet. Come to class prepared to discuss that day's text.

Week	Monday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
1	Introduction	Plato (cp) Chapter XIX	Plato (cp) Chapters XXIV & XXV	Descartes Potter, pp. 19-27
2	Descartes Potter, pp. 27-33	Descartes Potter, pp. 35-43	Descartes Potter, pp. 44-53	Locke Potter, pp. 55-66
3	Locke Potter, pp. 66-84	Locke Potter, pp. 84-92	Locke Potter, pp. 93-104	Berkeley Potter, pp. 109-118
4	Berkeley Potter, pp. 118-126	No assignment (presentation)	Hume Potter, pp. 129-152	No assignment (presentation)
5	Kant Potter, pp. 155-175	Kant Potter, pp. 175-185	NO CLASS: Dr. Case at Conference
6	Kant Potter, pp. 188-208	Kant Potter, pp. 210-219	Midterm Exam	Kant Potter, pp. 221-227
7	James (cp) pp. 95-104	James (cp) pp. 104-113	Austin (cp) pp. 76-103	Austin (cp) pp. 103-116
8	Quine: Chapters 1 & 2	Quine: Chapter 3	Quine: Chapters 4 &5	Quine: Chapter 6
9	Quine: Chapter 7	Quine: Chapter 8	Quine: Chapter 9	Quine: Chapter 10
10	NO CLASS: Memorial Day	Rorty (cp) pp. xiii-xlvii (both days)		Review