PHIL 180. Knowledge and Understanding. Examines the concept of knowledge. Representative topics include: the role of sense perception and memory, the importance of certainty, the justification of belief, philosophical skepticism, the concept of truth and the nature of philosophical inquiry. Emphasis is on contemporary formulations. Prerequisite: 6 units in philosophy or instructor permission. 3 units.
This is the login page for SacCT: www.csus.edu/sacct. If you have questions about SacCT or need technical help, click on "student resources" on that page for further information.
Course materials:
We follow the text closely and cover appx. one chapter of this text in 2 - 3 meetings, with time allowed for extended discussion of supplemental material. Please read the chapter sections and the additional articles before we meet in class. Attend class to see what exactly is required for each subsequent meeting. Also see the Blog page for this course in SacCT for the most recent news - I update it weekly.
wk | date | topic/reading | events | additional articles due this week |
1 | Jan. 27-29 |
Ch. 1: Epistemology: A First Look 1. Why Study Knowledge? |
Intro to course, schedule, assignments | |
2 | Feb. 3-5 |
Ch. 2: Explaining Knowledge 1. The Scope of Epistemology |
Expect an in-class Clicker Quiz worth 5 points during every class meeting in every week. Each is based primarily upon assigned readings due. | |
3 | Feb. 10-12 |
Ch. 3: Belief 1. Belief and Representational States |
Analysis paper 1 due by noon on Wednesday 12 February 2014 in SacCT | |
4 | Feb. 17-19 |
Ch. 3: Belief (cont.) 4. Belief and Theoretical Ideals |
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5 | Feb. 24-26 |
Ch. 4: Truth 1. Relativism |
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6 | Mar. 3-5 |
Ch. 5: Justification and Beyond 1. Justifications, Truth and Defeat |
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7 | Mar. 10-12 |
Ch. 5: Justification and Beyond (cont.) 3. Supplementing Justification: The Gettier Problem |
Analysis paper 2 due by noon on Wednesday 12 March 2014 in SacCT | |
8 | Mar. 17-20 |
Ch. 6: Sources of Knowledge 1. Rationalism, Empiricism, and Innatism |
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Mar. 24-30 |
Spring Break |
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9 | Apr. 2 | Ch. 6: Sources of Knowledge (cont.) 4. Memory |
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10 | Apr. 7-9 |
Ch. 7: Rationality 1. Preliminary Distinctions |
Analysis paper 3 due by noon on Wednesday 9 April in SacCT | |
11 | Apr. 14-16 |
Ch. 7: Rationality (cont.) 4. Rationality and Decision Under Uncertainty |
Wednesday 16 April 2014 the class does not meet - go to the Nammour Symposium | |
12 | Apr. |
Ch. 8: Skepticism 1. Some Species of Skepticism |
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13 | Apr. 28-30 |
Ch. 8: Skepticism (cont.) 4. Skepticism, Naturalism, and Broad Explanation |
Analysis paper 4 due by noon on Wednesday 30 April 2014 in SacCT | |
14 | May 5-7 |
Ch. 9: Epistemology and Explanation 1. Origins of Contemporary Epistemology |
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15 | May 12-14 |
Ch. 9: Epistemology and Explanation (cont.) 3. Explanation and Knowledge |
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16 | finals week | - no instruction, no office hours | Analysis paper 5 due by noon on Wednesday 21 May 2014 in SacCT |
For each paper, I will assign a numerical score which corresponds to a letter-grade on my grade-scale. Notice that scores correspond to letter-grades NOT percentages. Below are number to letter-grade conversion scales, where an A = excellent, B = good, C = satisfactory, D = unsatisfactory, F = Fail.
this score on an analysis PAPER corresponds | < 10 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
25 |
to this letter-grade | F |
D |
C |
B |
A |
How do I determine your overall course grade? Grades are NOT based on percentages, instead grades are based on total points accumulated. I add the scores you earn on all of the quizzes and papers, then assign the final letter-grade based on my grading scale (below). For instance, if you earn a total of 129 points, then this corresponds to a C on my grading scale. Therefore, one receives a C for the course. Since my overall grading scale is generous and rounding introduces error, I will not round scores up or down.
this total number of points at the end of the COURSE corresponds |
< 80 |
80 |
90 |
100 |
110 |
120 |
130 |
140 |
150 |
160 |
170 |
180+ |
to this letter-grade | F |
D - |
D |
D + |
C - |
C |
C + |
B - |
B |
B + |
A - |
A |
Students cannot re-take or make-up any quiz or paper, absolutely, no exceptions. There isn't time for this and there are plenty of points available so that one can miss a quiz or two and still do well in the course.
Attendance is mandatory. If you miss a meeting, then you will probably miss something important, for instance, most meetings will have an in-class quiz. Visit me in my office or meet with others in the class for what material you missed. Please try not to be late to class, but it is better to come to class late than not to come to class at all.
Laptops, iPads are permissible, but please refrain from using them in ways which distract fellow students. Please, no eating or texting during class meetings, if you distract us, then you will be dismissed.
How does one succeed in this course? I recommend that you read assigned material before the class meets, don't skip class or quizzes, and never hesitate to ask me questions.
If you have a disability and require accommodations, you need to provide me with your official documentation from SSWD, which is in Lassen Hall 1008, (916) 278-6955. Please discuss accommodation needs with me ASAP during my office hours or by appt. early in the semester so that we may make a plan to help you out.
If you are registered with SSWD and require the use of the Campus Testing Center in 2302 Lassen Hall, then for any in-class quiz, you will need to complete a Testing with Accommodations Instruction Form to give to your instructor.
Review all academic responsibilities, definitions, sanctions and rights described herein. Students may work together on homework but each student must submit their own answers on each of their quizzes. Sharing or copying answers on quizzes is cheating, which is dishonest and violates campus codes of conduct.