Reason & Truth

Professor: Andrew Y. Lee

Course: PHLA10 \ University of Toronto, Scarborough \ Winter 2024
Time/Location: TUESDAYS + THURSDAYS \ 11am–12pm \ AC 223

Description

This course will introduce a variety of philosophical questions about knowledge and
skepticism, appearance and reality, mind and matter, free will and determinism, and the
nature of selves. Readings will be mostly analytic philosophy articles.

Text

Norton Introduction to Philosophy (2nd edition)

Grading

Participation 15%
Argument Maps 20%
Presentation 10%
Paper 25%
Exam 30%

Assignments

Participation—15%
You’re expected to show up to both lecture and tutorial. In tutorial, you’re expected to
actively listen, on occasion ask a question or make a comment. You’ll also have
opportunities to ask questions during lectures.
Argument Maps—20%
You’ll make two argument maps for the course. The information and the software can be
found at https://maps.simoncullen.org/home, and guidelines can be found at
http://maps.simoncullen.org/basics/.

Each map should be on an argument from one of the readings of the course. You may
choose any reading (so long as it’s been covered up to that point in class) for any map.
Each map must contain a minimum of 5 nodes and a maximum of 10 nodes. The maps will
graded on both structure and content. Each map will receive a score from 0–10.

Presentation—10%
You’ll give a short (~5-7 minute) presentation reviewing a core argument in the assigned
reading for that week. You should use either a handout, slides, or the blackboard for your
presentation.

Paper—25%
You’ll write a paper (due April 11th). The paper may be on any topic of the class. Your
paper must do the following: (1) argue for a thesis, (2) present an argument in premise-
conclusion form (this may be either an argument for your thesis, or an argument that
you’ll criticize), and (3) present an objection to the argument. The maximum word count
is 1500 words. You aren’t permitted to use any form of AI assistance.

Exam—30%
There will be a final, in-class exam. The exam will consist of vocabulary, fill in the blanks,
multiple choice, short responses, and a mini-essay (from a choice of prompts).

Due Dates

Each assignment is due by 11:59pm. The due dates are as follows:

1st Argument Map: February 8

2nd Argument Map: March 7
Paper: April 11
Class Policies

Readings
You’re expected to have finished the readings before class (and before tutorial). For
example, you’re expected to come to class on January 18th having already read Moore’s
“Proof of an External World.”

Contact
Your primary point of contact is your Section TA. If you have any questions related to the
course, direct your questions to them first (either through email or office hours). If needed,
the Section TA will escalate the question to the Head TA.

Late Penalty
You have seven days of extensions to be used throughout the course (on any assignment).
If you use up your entire seven days of extensions, then you’ll incur a penalty of 1% of
your course grade for each day that each of your assignments is late. In special
circumstances, you can appeal to your Section TA for a longer extension (without penalty)
on an assignment.

Accommodations
Students with diverse learning styles and needs are welcome in this course. If you have a
health consideration that requires accommodations, check out relevant information here.
You can also arrange for support at accessibility.services@utoronto.ca or 416-978-8060.

Academic Integrity
I expect all the work you submit in this course will be your original work. If you have any
questions or concerns in connection with academic integrity, please reach out to me. Key
university resources on academic integrity are available here.

Readings

* UNIT 0—WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY? *

1. Why Philosophy? Five Views Jan 11 Norton Reader

2. A Brief Guide to Logic and Argumentation Jan 11 Norton Reader
3. Some Guidelines for Writing Philosophy Papers Jan 11 Norton Reader
4. Hints for Argument Maps* Jan 11 Cullen

* UNIT 1—KNOWLEDGE *

5. *How can we know about the external world?* Jan 16 Norton Reader
6. Meditation 1: What can be called into doubt Jan 16 Descartes
7. Proof of an External World Jan 18 Moore
8. Skepticism and Inference to the Best Explanation Jan 18 Vogel
9. Ignorance of Things in Themselves Jan 23 Langton

10. *What is knowledge?* Jan 25 Norton Reader

11. Is Knowledge Justified True Belief? Jan 25 Gettier
12. Knowledge and Belief Jan 30 Williamson

13. *Are things as they appear?* Feb 1 Norton Reader

14. Appearance and Reality Feb 1 Russell
15. Are We Living in a Simulation? Feb 6 Bostrom

16. *How can you know your own mind?* Feb 8 Norton Reader
17. Skepticism about the Internal World Feb 8 Byrne

* UNIT 2—CONSCIOUSNESS *

18. *Is Mind Material?* Feb 13 Norton Reader

19. Descartes’ Myth Feb 13 Ryle
20. Sensations and Brain Processes Feb 15 Smart
21. Can Computers Think? Feb 27 Searle

22. *What is consciousness?* Feb 29 Norton Reader

23. The Light and the Room Feb 29 Lee
24. What is it like to be a bat? Mar 5 Nagel
25. The Hard Problem of Consciousness Mar 7 Chalmers
26. Are mental states irreducible to neurobiological states? Mar 12 Churchland
27. The Puzzle of Transparency Mar 14 Tye
 * UNIT 3—THE SELF *

28. *Do we possess free will?* Mar 19 Norton Reader

29. Free Will Mar 19 Strawson (Galen)
30. Freedom and Necessity Mar 21 Ayer
31. Freedom and Resentment Mar 26 Strawson (P.F.)
32. Freedom of the Will and the Concept of a Person Mar 28 Frankfurt

33. *What is personal identity?* Apr 2 Norton Reader

34. Personal Identity Apr 2 Parfit
35. The Self and the Future Apr 4 Williams