Schedule of Readings: Second Unit

Week 5	Transition to Epistemology
Mon 2/13	First Exam
Weds 2/15	Read: Waller, Chapter 3: 63-70 Discussion: Come to class prepared to talk about skepticism and the Copernican Revolution. Consider how you would answer exercise questions 1 & 2 (pages 86-87)
Week 6	Descartes’ Quest for Certainty
Mon 2/20	NO CLASS—President’s Day.
Weds 2/22	Read: Waller, Chapter 3: 70-75) Read: Descartes, Meditations 1-2 (Waller, 75-82) Discussion: When reading Descartes try to work through his argument. Pay particular attention to how he goes about doubting everything, why he can’t doubt his own existence, and what standard he uses to distinguish between doubt and certainty (how would you define these terms? How do you distinguish between things you are certain of, and things you doubt?)
Week 7	Descartes’ Quest for Certainty & The Problem of the External World
Mon 2/27	Read: Descartes, Meditations 3 (through MyPhilosophy Lab or online at: http://www.classicallibrary.org/descartes/meditations/6.htm. Remember to bring the text to class.) Discussion: The problem of solipsism. As you read this meditation develop answers to the following questions: (a) why does Descartes have to prove God’s existence? (b) what is the precise argument that he uses to prove God’s existence? (c) Is this argument conclusion? Does it convince you? Where is it strong/weak?
Weds 2/29	Read: Descartes, Meditations 4 (through MyPhilosophy Lab or online at: http://www.classicallibrary.org/descartes/meditations/7.htm. Remember to bring the text to class.) Read: Waller, Chapter 4: 91-95 (Rationalism) Discussion: Falsehood and error. Why is it important to explain error and falsehood? What is the cause of error? What does this tell us about human nature, and what does it tell us about God’s nature?
Week 8	Empiricism, Humean Skepticism, and Kant’s Synthesis
Mon 3/5	Read: Waller, Chapter 4: 95-101 Read: Hume, selections in Waller 104-113 Discussion: How is empiricism different from rationalism? Which approach to understanding knowledge appeals to you so far? Why? What are the problems with empiricism? Why, importantly, does Hume adopt a skeptical approach to human knowledge? How does Hume differ from Locke?
Weds 3/7	Read: Hume, Dialogues on Natural Religion (handout) Discussion: Empiricism and religion. Can we use the natural world as proof of God’s existence?