Philosophy 1
Introduction to Philosophy

Section E
TTh 8:30 - 9:45
110 Kalkin Hall
Final Exam: 11:45-1:45, Thursday, 4/30

Study Guide for the Midterm Exam

Midterm Exam Review Session: Monday, 3/2 at 8:30pm in Room 107 (back room) at 70 S. Williams (from Waterman, walk one block down College St., turn right onto S. Williams, and go 1/2 block to 70 S. Williams St.)

Study Questions for the Final Exam

SYLLABUS

Assignments

Homework #1 (click here), due in class Thursday, 1/29.

A Solution to Homework #1

Homework #2 (click here), due in class Thursday, 2/19. No late assignments will be accepted after 2/24!

A Solution to Homework #2

Homework #3 (click here), due Friday, 3/20 at 3:30pm (in my mailbox at 70 S. Williams St.). No late assignments will be accepted after Tuesday, 3/24!

A Solution to Homework #3

Homework #4 (click here), due in class Thursday, 4/9. None accepted after Tuesday, 4/14!

A Solution to Homework #4

Homework #5 (click here), due in class Thursday, 4/23. None accepted after Tuesday, 4/28!

A Solution to Homework #5

Overhead Slides Used In Class and Miscellaneous Items

Terminology concerning arguments

The Testability Theory of Meaning

Tentative Schedule of Reading Assignments
DateReading To Be Done For Class On That DayNotes/Assignment
Thursday, 1/15 Aquinas, "Five Ways," especially ways 1 & 2 Notes
Tuesday, 1/20 Paley, "The Design Argument" Mini-Assignment to be turned in in class
Thursday, 1/22 No Reading.
Tuesday, 1/27 Mann, "Evil" Notes
Thursday, 1/29 No Reading. Homework #1 due!
Tuesday, 2/3 No Reading.
Thursday, 2/5 No Reading.
Tuesday, 2/10 Ayer, excerpts from Language, Truth and Logic
Read Chapter 1 and the four paragraphs starting with "This mention of God ..." on p. 114		 Notes
Thursday, 2/12 Hardin, "Lifeboat Ethics" Notes
Tuesday, 2/17 No Reading.
Thursday, 2/19 No Reading. Homework #2 due!
Tuesday, 2/24 Unger, Living High and Letting Die, Ch. 1 No Notes This Time
Thursday, 2/26 Unger, Living High and Letting Die, Ch. 2, sections 1-9 & 17 Notes
Tuesday, 3/3 No Class -- Town Meeting Day!
Thursday, 3/5 Midterm Exam!
Tuesday & Thursday, 3/10 & 3/12 No Class -- Spring Break!
Tuesday, 3/17 Mill, Utilitarianism, Ch. 1 and first 8 pages of Ch. 2 (small book bought at UVM bookstore) No Notes This Time
Thursday, 3/19 No Reading. Homework #3 due!
Tuesday, 3/24 Mill, Utilitarianism, the remainder of Ch. 2 No Notes This Time
Thursday, 3/26 No Reading.
Tuesday, 3/31 Mill, Utilitarianism, first page of Ch. IV
Carritt, "Criticisms of Utilitarianism"
Thursday, 4/2 Smart, "Extreme and Restricted Utilitarianism" Notes
Tuesday, 4/7 Robert Kane, "Introduction" to Free Will, through p. 14 Notes
Thursday, 4/9 No Reading. Homework #4 due!
Tuesday, 4/14 Robert Kane, "Introduction" to Free Will, the remainder Notes
Thursday, 4/16 Campbell, "Has the Self Free Will?" Notes
Tuesday, 4/21 Ayer, "Freedom and Necessity"
Pereboom, "Living Without Free Will"sections 1-2 only		 Notes
Thursday, 4/23 No Reading. Homework #5 due!
Tuesday, 4/28 No Reading. Review Session.
Thursday, 4/30 Final Exam: 11:45am in usual classroom

Instructor:

Mr. Moyer
Room 204
70 S. Williams St. (mailbox on main floor)
656-3140
Office Hours: Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 1:30-2:30
I can also be available after class or many other times. Simply send me email or let me know after class if you'd like to set up a time to meet.
Email: Mark.Moyer@uvm.edu

Steps to Improving Your Grade

  1. Get tutoring. The Learning Cooperative provides tutors free of charge. Call 656-4075 for more info. You might also consider the Writing Center (part of the Learning Cooperative) if you're having trouble writing well.
  2. Come see me in office hours. Either accumulate specific questions to ask me, have me go over topics that you didn't understand well, or come by and tell me how you think an argument goes, so I can add or correct where needed. I'm often in the office, so feel free to call or email to suggest times that aren't official office hour times.
  3. Meet with other students on a regular basis to go over arguments.
  4. Summarize each argument on your own as clearly as you can. You'll often learn quite a bit just by forcing yourself to write down exactly how the argument goes. Plus, you can always have me check it over.
  5. Even if you're shy, force yourself to participate in class. If anything is at all unclear, raise your hand and ask for clarification!
  6. Re-read. This is philosophy, so don't expect it to be clear the first time you read it. You might read the article before class and write a short summary, come to class and hear the lecture on the article, and then go back and re-read it to make sure everything makes sense.

Steps to Becoming a Better Student

  1. Read. Read more and you will improve your written expression and perhaps even your ability to think more carefully. This, I believe, is the best way of becoming a better student overall.
  2. Here are some common basic spelling and grammar mistakes to avoid.

Want a little fun while doing a bit of philosophy? Take the following test -- click here!