Philosophy 11: Introduction to Philosophy

Matthew Silverstein
Fall 2007

Contact Information
Office: 204 Cooper House
Office Hours: Tuesday, 2:00–5:00 pm, and by appointment
Email: mesilverstein@amherst.edu
Phone: (413) 542-8310

Course Description
This course will introduce you to the discipline of philosophy by way of several philosophical problems,
including the possibility of knowledge, the morality of punishment, and the existence of God. But
philosophy is more than a set of specific problems. It is also a way of attacking problems. As we move
from one topic to the next, we will remain focused on the method of philosophy: clear, careful, analytical
reasoning. We will practice this method and hone our philosophical skills both in class discussions and
in written work.
Philosophy is always rewarding, but it can also be discomforting. To be good philosophers, we
must reason honestly as well as clearly. We must be willing to put beliefs we hold dear under our
philosophical microscopes, even though those beliefs may perish under such scrutiny. It is quite likely
that at least one of your most cherished beliefs will find its way under our microscopes during the
course of the semester. When this happens, remember that our goal is not to demonstrate that your
view is right or wrong, but rather to analyze and evaluate the arguments both in support of and against
that view.

Course Requirements
There will be three papers (5–7 pages). Preparation and active participation also count towards your
grade. Your final grade will be determined as follows:
 Paper 
 Paper 
 Paper 
 Preparation and participation
Your preparation grade will be a function of unannounced, in-class ten-minute essay assignments.
There will be several such assignments over the course of the semester. They are designed to encourage
thoughtful discussion. Though they will not be graded, I will collect them at the end of class. These
essays cannot be made up, and unsatisfactory work will receive no credit.
Active participation is an important part of any philosophy class. Philosophy is a conversational
discipline: you are not doing philosophy if you are not participating in the conversation.
Course Policies
Late Papers. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, you will be penalized for late work. Papers
that are submitted late and without an extension will be marked down ⅓ of a letter grade (from a- to
b+, for example) for every day of lateness. If there are special circumstances (sporting events, family
emergencies, dire illness), please contact me before the paper is due to arrange an extension.
Rewrites. You will have the opportunity to rewrite all of your papers. (You are never required to rewrite
an assignment.) If you choose to rewrite a paper, you must submit the revised version along with the
original version (and my comments). Rewrites are due one week after the graded original is returned to
you. Your grade for that assignment will be the average of your grades on the original and the rewrite.
Papers that are submitted late and without an extension may not be rewritten under any circumstances.

Course Book
Reason and Responsibility, edited by Joel Feinberg and Russ Shafer-Landau
This book is available at Amherst Books (8 Main Street). Additional readings will be available on
electronic reserve.

Schedule of Topics and Readings

September 5 - Introductions
Unit 1 - Skepticism
September 10 - Descartes: Radical Doubt
Meditations, Meditation 1 (pp. 166–8)
September 12 - Descartes: Self and Substance
Meditations, Meditation 2 (pp. 169–73)
Meditations, Objections and Replies (Cogito ergo sum) (handout)
Principles of Philosophy, Part I, section 7 (handout)
September 17 - Descartes: Clear and Distinct Perceptions
Meditations, Meditation 3 (first twelve paragraphs only) (pp. 173–5)
Meditations, Meditation 4 (pp. 180–4)
Meditations, Meditation 5 (pp. 184–7)
September 19 - Descartes: The Ontological Argument
Meditations, Meditation 5 (pp. 184–7)
Meditations, Objections and Replies (Whether God’s Essence …) (handout)
Anselm of Canterbury, Proslogion (pp. 6–7)
Guanilo of Marmoutiers, “On Behalf of the Fool” (pp. 7–10)
September 24 - The Cartesian Circle
Meditations, Meditation 5 (pp. 184–7)
Meditations, Objections and Replies (Clear and Distinct Perception) (handout)
Meditations, Meditation 6 (pp. 187–95)
Unit 2 - The Existence of God
September 26 - The Cosmological Argument: Proponents
Thomas Aquinas, “Whether God Exists?” (pp. 21–2)
Samuel Clarke, A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God (pp. 22–3)
October 1 - paper 1 due (5:00 pm)
October 1 - The Cosmological Argument: Critics
Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, part ix (59–61)
William Rowe, “The Cosmological Argument” (pp. 23–32)
October 3 - The Teleological Argument: Classic Readings
William Paley, Natural Theology (pp. 32–37)
David Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, parts ii–viii (pp. 38–59)
October 10 - The Teleological Argument: Contemporary Readings
Elliot Sober, “The Design Argument” (online)
Stephen Jay Gould, “The Panda’s Thumb” (handout)
October 15 - Pascal’s Wager
Blaise Pascal, “The Wager” (pp. 119–122)
W. K. Clifford, “The Ethics of Belief ” (pp. 101–5)
William James, “The Will to Believe” (pp. 106–114)
October 17 - The Problem of Evil
Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, part x–xi (pp. 61–72)
J. L. Mackie, “Evil and Omnipotence” (pp. 78–85)
October 22 - The Free Will Defense
Richard Swinburne, “Why God Allows Evil” (pp. 89–97)
Unit 3 - Punishment
October 24 - Relativism
October 29 - Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham, The Principles of Morals and Legislation, chapters i, xiii (handout)
October 31 - Bentham on Punishment
Jeremy Bentham, The Principles of Morals and Legislation, chapters xiv–xv (handout)
November 2 - paper 2 due (5:oo pm)
November 5 - Utilitarian Alternatives
W. D. Ross, “Punishment” (handout)
John Rawls, “Two Concepts of Rules” (handout)
November 7 - Retributivism
Herbert Morris, “Persons and Punishment” (handout)
November 12 - Expressivism
Jean Hampton, “A New Theory of Retribution” (handout)
Joel Feinberg, “The Expressive Function of Punishment” (handout)
November 14 - The Prisoners’ Dilemma
Richard Dawkins, “Nice Guys Finish First” (handout)
November 26 - Evolution and Punishment
Richard Dawkins, “Nice Guys Finish First” (handout)
Unit 4 - Freedom and Moral Responsibility
November 28 - The Problem
Paul Holbach, “The Illusion of Free Will” (pp. 458–63)
November 30 - paper 3 due (5:00 pm)
December 3 - Compatibilist Proposals
A. J. Ayer, “Freedom and Necessity” (pp. 414–9)
John Martin Fischer, “My Compatibilism” (pp. 425–37)
December 5 - Libertarian Responses
Roderick Chisholm, “Human Freedom and the Self ” (pp. 438–45)
Robert Kane, “Free Will” (pp. 445–58)
December 10 - Incompatibilist Responses
Derek Pereboom, “Why We Have No Free Will” (pp. 464–77)
December 12 - A Final Approach
P. F. Strawson, “Freedom and Resentment” (handout)