PHIL 105OS: INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

Summer 2014, Trinity Western University

Instructor:
Course Duration:
Email:

Dr. Myron A. Penner

July 2 August 08
Myron.Penner@twu.ca

Text:
Elliot Sober, Core Questions in Philosophy: A Text with Readings, 6th ed.
(Prentice Hall: 2013).
Course Objectives:
1.
Develop tools of analysis that will help you engage some basic
philosophical questions with intelligence and clarity.
2.
Digest some writings of a few great thinkers within the history of
philosophy.
3.
Examine some of the questions important to western philosophy,
including: What, if anything, can we know? Is it rational to believe that
God exists? Are human beings physical objects or nonphysical souls?
Requirements:
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Paper
Exam 4

15%
20%
20%
15%
30%

Exams:
This course will have four exams. The first three exams will be based on
material covered in the preceding section. The final exam will be cumulative
and focus on material covered since the beginning of the course. (Helpful
Hint: The Review Questions and Problems for Further Thought listed for
the Sober readings in the course outline may suggest potential exam
questions. If youre able to correctly answer the designated Review
Questions and Problems for Further Thought, youll be in a position to
succeed on the exams.)
Papers:
This course will have one short paper (2000 words, plus or minus 10%). Your
paper topic will come from a list of possibilities which I will provide for you.
You must submit a one page proposal outlining the argument of your paper
on the specified due date. Specific instructions for this course are outlined in
the document Summer 2014, PHIL 105 OS Paper Topics.
PHIL 105OS Syllabus
Myron A. Penner

Some Policies to Note:

All course assignments (i.e. exams and term paper) are to be completed by
August 15, 2014. Exam 1 is based on content from the readings and audio
material for lectures 1 4. Exam 2 is based on content from the readings
and audio material for lectures 5 12. Exam 3 is based on content from the
readings and audio material for lectures 13 16. Exam 4 is based on content
from the readings and audio material for lectures 1 20. All of the exams
have time limits and must be completed within two hours of starting the
exam.

PHIL 105OS Syllabus

Myron A. Penner

RQ = Review Questions; PFT = Problems for Further Thought

COURSE SCHEDULE:
Lecture #

Topic/Reading
Very Introductory Logic

1
2

Chapter 1: What is Philosophy? (3-9)

RQ: 1, 2
Chapter 2: Deductive Arguments (11-21)
RQ: 1-8
PFT: 1, 2
Chapter 3: Inductive and Abductive Arguments (24-37)
RQ: 1-4, 6
PFT: 1-3
Chapter 3: Contd
EXAM ONE
Reason and Belief in God

6
7
8

10

11

Chapter 4: Aquinas Four Ways (43-56); Aquinas Reading on

Mycourses
RQ: 1-7
Chapter 5: The Design Argument (59-66)
RQ: 1-5
PFT: 1, 3
Humes Critique of the Design Argument; Hume Reading on
MyCourses
Chapter 6: Evolution and Creationism (68-81)
RQ: 1, 2, 4
PFT: 1
Chapter 7: Can Science Explain Everything? (83-90)
RQ: 1-5
PFT: 1, 4
Chapter 9: Is the Existence of God Testable? (101-107); Ayer
Reading on MyCourses
RQ: 1-4
PFT: 1, 3, 5
Chapter 10: Pascal and Irrationality (108-116); Pascal
Reading on MyCourses
RQ: 1-5, 7
PFT: 2

PHIL 105OS Syllabus

Myron A. Penner

12

Chapter 11: The Argument from Evil (119-126)

RQ: 1-6
PFT: 1, 2
EXAM TWO
Knowledge and Justified Belief

13

14

15

16

Chapter 12: What is Knowledge? (137-145)

RQ: 1-5
PFT: 2
ES Chapter 13: Descartess Foundationalism (147-158);
Descartes Reading on MyCourses
RQ: 1-4, 7
PFT: 1, 2
ES Chapter 14: The Reliability Theory of Knowledge (161171)
RQ: 1, 4, 5
PFT: 3
Plantingas The Reformed Objection to Natural Theology;
Plantinga Reading on MyCourses
EXAM THREE
Mind-Body Problem

17

18
19
20

ES Chapter 19: Dualism and the Mind/Body Problem (203213)

RQ: 1-5
PFT: 1, 5
Chapter 22: The Mind/Brain Identity Theory (229-234)
RQ: 1-4
PFT: 1, 4
David Chalmers, The Puzzle of Conscious Experience;
Chalmers Reading on MyCourses
Alvin Plantinga, Materialism and Christian Belief; Plantinga
Reading on MyCourses

PHIL 105OS Syllabus

Myron A. Penner