Phil. 192D and LibA. 205
Space and Time
from Plato to Einstein
Liberal Arts 205 and Philosophy 192D
Fall semester 2004, Prof. Dowden
Catalog description: Space and Time: Plato to Einstein. Advanced introduction to significant philosophical issues involving space, time, and matter. The historical development of the issues from Antiquity (Zeno, Plato, and Euclid) through the Early Modern Period (Newton, Leibniz, Berkeley, Kant) to contemporary treatments (Einstein, Thorne, and Hawking). An intensive investigation into current state of these issues. Prerequisite: 6 units in philosophy or instructor permission. 3 units.
Student outcome goals: The goal is for you to acquire a broad understanding of the major philosophical issues throughout history that have involved the nature of space and time. You will know what is controversial about various important claims that have been made, and you will be able to carefully express and to defend your own views on these topics.
Instructor: Prof. Bradley Dowden. My office is in Mendocino Hall, room 3022. My weekly office hours will be announced at the first class meeting. Feel free to stop by at any of those times. If those hours are inconvenient for you, then I can arrange an appointment for an alternative time. Also, you may send me e-mail at dowden@csus.edu or call my office at 278-7384 or the Philosophy Department Office at 278-6424. The fastest way to contact me is by email. My personal web page is at http://www.csus.edu/indiv/d/dowdenb/index.htm
Dowden
Grades for LibA 205: a homework assignment (15%), a midterm exam (20%), an eight-page essay (25%), a five-page essay (15%), and a comprehensive final exam (25%).
Grades for Phil. 192D: a homework assignment (20%), a midterm exam (25%), an eight-page essay (25%), and a comprehensive final exam (30%). Depth of philosophical insight, accuracy, and quality of argumentation are the paramount factors affecting the grades, but English writing skill is also a significant factor.
- Homework 1 due Sept. 30
- Midterm on Oct. 21
- essay (LibA 205 only) due Nov. 11
- essay due Dec. 2
- final exam on Dec. 16, 5:15 pm
Textbooks:
One paperback book is required:
Space, Time and Einstein: An Introduction, by J. B. Kennedy,
McGill-Queen's University Press, 2003. Some articles will be
handed out in class, and some articles on
the Internet will be required as well, especially excerpts from the e-book
Space from Zeno to Einstein: Classic Readings with a Contemporary
Commentary, edited by Nick Huggett, which is
available free as an
electronic resource online from the CSUS Library. In addition to
covering the central issues in the philosophy of space and time, and
the significant contributions throughout history, the Kennedy
book covers Einstein's special and general relativity, the four-dimensional universe, the possibility of
time travel, whether space curves, the big
bang, black holes, and the idea of inflationary and accelerating
universes.
Prerequisites for LibA
205: None. Prerequisites for
Phil. 192D: You must have had six units in
philosophy from a college or university. Contact the instructor
if you wish an exception to be made for you.
Zeno Late assignments, and make-up assignments:
There are no make-ups. I accept late homeworks and essays.
Late assignments can be turned in by email. There is a late penalty that increases by one-third
letter grade for each 24-hour period it is late. You are at least one-period
late if you don't turn in your assignment at the beginning of the class
meeting when it is due. Examples.
If you turn in the assignment a few hours after it is due, then your A quality assignment becomes an A-.
Instead, if you turn in the same assignment 30 hours late, then your A quality assignment
becomes a B+. Weekends count.
Disabilities:
If you have a documented disability and require accommodation or assistance with assignments, tests,
attendance, note taking, etc., please see me early in the semester so that appropriate arrangements can be made to ensure
your full participation in class. Also, you are encouraged to contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (Lassen Hall)
for additional information regarding services that might be available to you.
Leibniz
More detailed course description: This is a seminar in metaphysics and the philosophy of science which focuses on issues involving space and time. The issues will be placed in historical context, but will not be covered in chronological order. Special attention will be given to Einstein's theories of relativity. The course's historical range is broad. We will examine the views of the ancient Greek atomists who invented the concept of space, and we will investigate the oldest metaphysical problem in European philosophy, the problem of change. But we will also consider the impact of 21st century theories of quantum gravity on our civilization's current understanding of space and time.
In addition, w
e will be studying the following controversial philosophical issues that have divided the experts over the centuries:- If you were to remove all material from all space, would empty space still be left, or would nothing at all be left?
- Is time merely a human artifact, or does it exist objectively?
- What causes there to be space and time?
- Time appears to have an arrow, to 'unfold' in a direction; but if that arrow reversed direction in some far off corner of the universe, would our counterparts walk backwards up steps while remembering the future?
- Which kinds of time travel are possible?
- What features of space can be known a priori, that is, by pure thought?
The relevant scientific theories will be introduced as needed, but only qualitatively.
Boltzmann
Schedule of Topics and Assignments:
The schedule of weekly reading assignments and course topics is
here.
Philosophy of Science:
For a discussion of what the philosophy
of science is all about, click
here.
First Reading Assignment: Read chapters 1
and 2 of the Kennedy book. Study tips: As you read an assignment, it's
helpful first to skim the assignment to get some sense of
what's ahead. Look at how it is organized and what clues, if
any, the author provides to signify main ideas (section
titles, bold face, etc.). Make your own notes as you read.
Stop every ten or fifteen minutes to look back over what
you've read and try to summarize the key ideas for yourself.
This periodic pausing and reviewing will help you maintain
your concentration, process the information more deeply, and
retain it longer. Do you notice connections between one
article and another, or between the views of one author and
those of another? You'll be given sample questions now and
then to help guide your studying for future assignments, but
answering an actual homework or test question often will
require you to apply your knowledge to new questions not
specifically discussed in class nor in the book. This
ability to use your knowledge in new situations requires
study activities different from memorizing. Your goal is to
improve your intellectual skills and your depth of
understanding, not to memorize information.
Hawking
Updated: Oct. 31, 2004