Philosophy 24.211
Theory of Knowledge
Spring 2002
Syllabus

I. Instructor
Richard Feldman
Office: E39-318
Office Hours: Tues. 1:00 - 2:00; Thurs: 11:00-12:00
Phone: x34072
E-Mail: rfeldman@mit.edu

II. Texts
Knowledge: Readings in Contemporary Epistemology, edited by Sven Bernecker and Fred Dretske (available in the bookstore).

Epistemology by Richard Feldman (Draft of manuscript. Can be purchased in class.)
Additional readings are available online. Links are listed below. Links will also be posted on the class web site.

III. Web Page

Course information, including this syllabus, assignments, some lecture notes, and schedule changes, will be available online. URL to be determined.

IV. Requirements
1. An in class mid-term exam. (20% of course grade.)
2. A take-home final exam. (30%.) (There will be an option to write a final paper on an approved topic.)
3. Approximately 6 1-2 page written assignments. Each assignment will require a precise reformulation of some claim or argument from the readings or a presentation of an objection to some point made in the readings or in class. Approximately 7 of these assignments will be made and the best 6 grades will be counted. [It is possible that the exact number of assignments made and required will be changed slightly.] (40%)
4. Regular participation in class discussions. Questions will often be given in out in class for discussion in the next class. Participation in discussion will proceed best when these questions have been considered prior to class. (10%)

(Tentative) Course Outline and Reading List

Readings are listed following the topics. Readings from the Knowledge anthology are indicated by 'B&D' followed by chapter (article) number. Readings from the Epistemology text are indicated by an 'F' followed by chapter or page numbers.

  1. Introduction: The Standard View About Knowledge and Rationality (F: Ch. 1)
  2. Knowledge
    1. The Traditional Analysis (B&D: Ch. 1; F: pp. 7-17)
    2. Morality and Epistemology (W.K. Clifford, "The Ethics of Belief" online at http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/w_k_clifford/ethics_of_belief.html ; William James, "The Will to Believe" online at http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/text/james/will/will.htm; F: pp. 17-20)
    3. An Objection to the Traditional Analysis(B&D: Ch. 2; F: pp. 21-23)
    4. Defending and Modifying the Traditional Analysis (B&D: Ch. 3, 5; F: pp. 23-30)
    5. Replacing the Traditional Analysis (B&D: Ch. 7, Ch 25 Sections 1&2; F: Ch. 4)
  3. Justification
    1. Evidentialist Theories (F: pp. 39-44)
      1. Cartesian Foundationalism (B&D: Ch. 17-19; F: pp. 44-52)
      2. Coherentism (B&D: Ch. 11; F: pp. 52-60)
      3. Modest Foundationalism (F: pp. 60-65)
    2. Non-Evidentialist Theories
      1. Reliabilism ( B&D: Ch. 13-16; F: 67-74)
      2. Proper Function Theory ( F: 74-79)
  4. Skeptical Challenges to The Standard View
    1. What is Skepticism (B&D: Ch. 22; F: pp. 81-85)
    2. Four Arguments for Skepticism (B&D: Ch. 23; F: pp. 85-89)
    3. Replies to the Arguments for Skepticism (B&D: Ch. 24-25; F: 89-96)
    1. A New Argument for Skepticism (F: 96-103)
    2. Contextualism (B&D: Ch. 26: F: 103-105)
  1. Epistemology, Science, and The Standard View
    1. The Problem of Induction (B&D: Ch. 37-38; F: pp. 107-115)
    2. Empirical Evidence for Irrationality (F: pp. 115-122)
    3. Naturalism: Is Epistemology Possible? (B&D: Ch. 20-21; F: pp. 122-129)
  2. Epistemological Relativism (F: Ch. 9)