EpistemologyEpistemology course_number: PHIL441 department: Philosophy instructor: Keith DeRose course_ID: 20526 limited_enrollment: yes course_meeting_times: T 1.30-3.20 class_location: C 305 aka: phil441b/phil641b course_description: below Phil.441/641, EpistemologySpring, 1999Tuesdays, 1:30 - 3:20, Connecticut Hall, room305Prof. K. DeRoseCT Hall, room 410office phone: 432-1674dept. phone: 432-1665e-mail: keith.derose@yale.eduOffice Hours: W 1:30-2:30, Th 1:30-2:30 Philosophy seminars tend to be of two different types: "breadth" seminarsattempt to study a number of the central topics in an area of philosophy,while "depth" seminars focus in on one such topic. Thus, in epistemology,a depth seminar might focus on the topic of skepticism, or naturalizedepistemology, or internalism vs. externalism, or foundationalism vs. coherentism,etc., while a breadth seminar would sample many such topics. But in lookingat The Blackwell Guide to Epistemology, a book ideally suited fora breadth seminar, one is struck by how many of the pieces in the bookdevote substantial space to skepticism, indicating how heavily recent treatmentsof other epistemological topics have been influenced by their interactionswith the topic of skepticism. This in turn suggests that one might, inepistemology, attempt a seminar which, by exploiting these connections,is both a breadth seminar, covering various topics in the field, whileit at the same time constitutes an in-depth look at the topic of skepticism.We will try to pull off just such a seminar this spring. It will be quitean ambitious undertaking, but I'm convinced that it's possible. We'll see.Of course, we won't be able to look very carefully at the topics otherthan skepticism. Still, by the end of the semester, students should havea good feel for what's happening throughout current epistemology. Textbooks (these shouldbe available at Book Haven*):-G&S Greco and Sosa, ed., The Blackwell Guide to Epistemology-D&W DeRose and Warfield, ed., Skepticism:A Contemporary ReaderReadings not from the textbooks will be in a reserve file for reading atthe Philosophy Department. Written work and other requirements:1. Draft/Presentation. Each student will make an approximately 20 minutepresentation to the seminar. By noon on the Friday before the presentationis made, the student will submit a 5-8 page draft paper, on which the presentationwill be based.2. Paper. A 12-16 page (typed, double-spaced) paper will be due at theend of the seminar. It is not only allowed, but advised, that the paperbe on the same topic as the "draft/presentation" in the above requirement,and that an appropriately revised version of the draft constitute a majorportion of the final paper.3. Questions. Each student will turn in an essay question for five ofthe topics, 2-9. These are due at the start of the seminar on the firstdate that the topic is scheduled.4. Participation. Each student will be expected to attend seminar regularly,to participate cooperatively, and to read the other students' drafts beforethey are presented.Grading: To be discussed at the first meeting Topics, Readings and TentativeSchedule (note that many of the readings are very brief "background"pieces): 1. What Is Knowledge?: January 12.Note: This is our first meeting. Please try to, ifpossible, have the below listed papers read before our first meeting. Gettieris available in the phil. dept.-L. Zagzebski, "What Is Knowledge?" G&S, 92-116-E. Gettier, "Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?" Analysis23 (1963): 121-1232. Naturalized Epistemology: January19-W. Quine, "Epistemology Naturalized," in Quine, OntologicalRelativity and Other Essays-H. Kornblith, "In Defense of a Naturalized Epistemology,"G&S, 158-169-R. Feldman, "Methodological Naturalism in Epistemology," G&S,170-186-R. Foley, "Naturalized Epistemology," EPS, 374-3753. A Priori Knowledge: January 26-G. Bealer, "The A Priori," G&S, 243-279-P. Boghossian, "Knowledge, A Priori," EPS, 281-2834. The Structure of Knowledge (Foundationalismand Coherentism): February 2-L. BonJour, "The Dialectic of Foundationalism and Coherentism,"G&S 117-142-R. Fumerton, "Classical Foundationalism," EPS, 79-80-J. Bender, "Coherentism," EPS, 81-835. Perception -- and Perceiving God:February 9-W. Alston, "Perceptual Knowledge," G&S, 223-242-W. Alston, "Perceiving God," Journal of Philosophy83 (1986): 655-6656. Internalism, Externalism, and Skepticism:February 16, 23-E. Sosa, "Skepticism and the Internal/External Divide," G&S,145-157-C. Hill, "Process Reliabilism and Cartesian Scepticism," D&W,115-128-E. Sosa, "Philosophical Scepticism and Epistemic Circularity,"D&W, 93-114-B. Stroud, "Scepticism, 'Externalism,' and the Goal of Inquiry,"D&W, 292-304-J. Greco, "Internalism Versus Externalism," EPS, 265-M. Swain, "Reliabilism," EPS, 504-5067. Semantic Externalism and Skepticism:March 2-H. Putnam, "Brains in a Vat," D&W, 27-42-T. Warfield, "A Priori Knowledge of the World: Knowing theWorld by Knowing Our Minds," D&W, 76-90-B. Loewer, "Content, Mental," EPS, 108-1118. Relevant Alternatives, Tracking, Closure, andSkepticism: March 23, 30-F. Dretske, "Epistemic Operators," D&W, 131-144-G. Stine, "Skepticism, Relevant Alternatives, and DeductiveClosure," D&W, 145-155-R. Nozick, selections from Philosophical Explanations,D&W, 156-179-K. DeRose, "Relevant Alternatives," EPS, 503-5049. Contextualism, Invariantism, and Skepticism:April 6, 13, 20-K. DeRose, "Solving the Skeptical Problem," D&W, 183-219-K. DeRose, "Contextualism: An Explanation and Defense," G&S,187-205-P. Unger, selections from Philosophical Relativity,D&W, 243-271-B. Stroud, Chapter 2 of The Significance of PhilosophicalScepticism-K. DeRose, "Contextualism," EPS, 111-113Check out The EpistemologyPage.Keith DeRoseLast modified: 4 February 1999http://pantheon.yale.edu/~kd47/4-641-S99var site="s15kderose" visits to my web site, not justto this page, since 6/8/03; click on the sitemeter icon above for details |
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