Lectures on Monday and Wednesday 11:40-12:30 in LE6.

Introduction
3 September
What is it all about?
Introduction to the course, the topics, the hopes and expectations.

Perception
5, 10 September
How does seeing lead to believing?
An introduction to the philosophical problems of perception: the argument from illusion; realism and idealism.
Reading: handouts

Descartes
12, 17 September
Can we be sure of anything?
Is there are solid foundation for our knowledge? Could all of our beliefs be false?
Cartesian foundationalism, skepticism, certainty and justification.
Reading: Meditations I and II from Rene Descartes, Meditations

Berkeley
19, 24 September
Do we have knowledge of a world outside of us?
"If we do not perceive it, it does not exist (unless God perceives it)!": the extraordinary views of Bishop Berkeley.
Reading: George Berkeley, First Dialogue between Hylas and Philonous

Hume
3, 8 October
(Note holidays: 26 September and 1 October)
Of Skepticism with regard to the Senses. David Hume's position.
Reading: David Hume, "Of Skepticism with Regard to the Senses" (pp 89-106)

Review
10 October
Review of the main themes; discussion; question and answer session

Midterm quiz
22 October
(Note no classes during Reading Week, 15-19 October)
Covering all material studied to date

Wittgenstein
24, 29 October
Reading: Wittgenstein, On Certainty
Lecture notes: part 1, part 2

Writing philosophy
31 October
Advice on how to write a philosophy paper

What is knowledge?
5, 7 November
Reading: Edmund Gettier, "Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?"
Optional reading: William Lycan, "On the Gettier problem problem"
Lecture notes: part 1, part 2

Is knowledge important?
12, 14 November
Reading: selection from Plato, Meno (class handout)
Optional reading: the remainder of the Meno
Optional reading: Sally Haslanger, "What knowledge is and what it ought to be"
Lecture notes

Are we rational? Should we be?
19, 21 November
Reading: Samuels, Stich and Faucher, "Reason and Rationality" (read section 1 and 2 carefully, skim the rest)

Review
26 November

Final quiz
28 November
Covering the entire course