Shaughan Lavine	Tuesday and Thursday 2:00 P.M.–3:15 P.M.
Philosophy 344	206 Social Sciences Building
Fall 2006

A syllabus may be viewed by the University as a document that in certain circumstances may have contractual force. Faculty members have therefore been requested to include various notifications and disclosures in every syllabus. That is the reason for the legalistic tone of portions of this document. Most announced policies may be subject to reasonable modification when circumstances warrant. If you are in doubt, feel free to ask!

The following is the official course description:

Issues and Methods in Analytic Philosophy (3) Designed to improve ability to think analytically, with emphasis on analytic methodology. Selected readings on the nature of mental states, the analytic/synthetic distinction, personal identity, the concept of knowledge and justified belief, the theory of reference, and the distinction between science and pseudo-science. Writing-Emphasis Course. P, satisfaction of the upper-division writing-proficiency requirement (see “Writing-Emphasis Courses” in the Academic Policies and Graduation Requirements section of [the] catalog).

We shall devote the bulk of the semester to the question of how we know when we have seen a medium-sized physical object—for example, my hand in front of my face. That seems unproblematic, but—since we do sometimes think we have seen something when we haven’t—it is, to say the least, hard to specify why we think we are entitled to be so sure about such things. The problem is not chosen for its intrinsic interest and importance. Though it is interesting and important and has been much discussed throughout the history of philosophy, here we are primarily interested in it as a case study: the problem is easily understood, and there is clear, well-written exchange on the subject between Ayer and Austin. Our focus will be on the methods used by Ayer and Austin in the dispute, for they are excellent paradigms of the methods of analytic philosophy. It is my hope that this concentration on one dispute will enable you to obtain a thorough understanding of it, which will help you to hone your own analytic and critical skills. We shall also briefly cover several other topics from the list above.

Please note that all information contained in this course syllabus, other than the grade and absence policies, may be subject to change with reasonable advance notice, as Professor Lavine deems appropriate.

The texts should be available in the ASUA bookstore.

Copied notes, since the book is out of print.

In addition to the texts, I shall post lecture notes (what I have put up in class) online on the class website. Students should feel free to add comments or questions to the wiki, and to create study pages or the like. I do not regularly monitor the content of the wiki, though I may look from time to time. If you find anything that you feel is inappropriate, feel free to notify me.

The final examination will be Thursday, 10 May, 2 P.M.–4 P.M. The final examination is a mandatory part of the course. If you will be unable to take it for any reason, do not take this course. Of course, with documentation, serious medical excuses and the like will be accepted. Airplane tickets, weddings, and so forth, will not be.

There will be two required typed, double-spaced papers, one of 5 pages (that is, approximately 1,250 words, or 6,250 characters in length) and one of twice that length, a midterm examination, and a final examination. Keep a copy of each paper when you hand it in!

Papers

The first paper will be on a topic of your choice concerning the reading we have done to that point. Pick a specific argument or group of arguments to present and evaluate. For the second paper, please choose one of the articles in Ammerman to write about—which need not be one of the readings assigned for the class—once more presenting then criticizing the argument, or else write a detailed analysis of a topic concerning the Ayer-Austin debate. If your paper is not primarily concerned with at least one of the class readings, you must get the topic approved by me. You are always welcome to clear topics with me and to submit drafts or outlines to me either by e-mail or in person—the earlier the better.

Your papers should present the relevant positions clearly and assess their strengths and weaknesses. Note that if you get a position wrong, you are unlikely to assess it well. There is rarely only one correct interpretation of anything, but—whatever your interpretation—you must document it by giving page or line references to the passages on which the interpretation is based. Do not use quotations unless the precise wording of a passage is crucial. Explain the views in your own words.

The papers for the course are not primarily research papers, though you may wish to do relevant research. You must show that you have read the relevant texts carefully, thought about them, and made some sense of them. Do not report the views of others. Struggle with the texts on your own.

Page references to the assigned texts should be given in parentheses in the body of a paper. If you consult works other than the assigned texts, list them in a bibliography, with additional acknowledgment given to any writer who influenced your thinking. The Chicago Manual of Style is a useful reference for other matters of style. If you quote from any work, or paraphrase it, you must note explicitly that you have done so—in the case of direct quotation, the use of quotation marks will suffice. Failure to acknowledge sources or to note quotation or paraphrase constitutes plagiarism—intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one's own in any academic exercise, which is the ultimate academic crime—see the Code of Conduct in the ABOR Policy Manual, beginning at 5-301.C.¹ Any cheating, fabrication, or plagiarism may result in a failing grade for the work concerned or for the course, at Professor Lavine's discretion, and he may recommend additional penalties ranging from making the infraction a permanent part of your academic record to expulsion from the University, in accordance with the UA Code of Academic Integrity.

Examinations

The examinations will consist of short answer questions, each requiring an answer of a paragraph. The examination will cover all material presented in class and in the assigned readings. You will be allowed to consult your notes but not your books. (Please draw the obvious moral: take good notes on your reading.) Sample question.

Each of the two papers will count for 40% of your course grade. Your examination grade will be the remaining 20%. Your attendance and participation in the class and the wiki will determine what happens to your grade in borderline or questionable cases.

Your examination grade will be the average of the curved midterm and final examination grades, or your curved final examination grade, whichever is greater. That is, I drop the midterm grade if you do better on the final.

If you wish to complete an assignment late, you must get approval from Professor Lavine at least one week before the assignment is due. All holidays or special events observed by organized religions will be honored for those students who show affiliation with that particular religion. Absences preapproved by the UA Dean of Students (or Dean's designee) will be honored. Otherwise, short of serious medical excuses with written documentation, late work may result in grading penalties.

If you believe that a mistake has been made in the grading of one of your papers or examinations, you must put your reasons for thinking so in writing and then submit them to Professor Lavine within one week from the time the paper or examination was returned. All grades that have not been appealed will be considered final after one week. No oral appeals of grades will be considered. If there is still a problem after receiving a response to your appeal, you may then make an appointment to discuss the matter with Professor Lavine.

Attend class. Be prompt. Participate. Ask questions. Make use of office hours and of the wiki. If you are not at ease contributing regularly to class discussions, consider preparing your contributions in advance. You might write down any questions, comments, or criticisms you have concerning the readings and use those to initiate discussion. I recommend that you talk among yourselves about the readings both before and after class.

I expect acceptable classroom behavior at all times. Disruptive or threatening behavior may result in disciplinary procedures leading to severe penalties. See the UA Policy on Threatening Behavior by Students, and documents referenced therein.

Students with physical, psychological, or learning disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations in this course are encouraged to register with the S.A.L.T. Center or the Disability Resource Center.

Students with special needs who are registered with the S.A.L.T. Center or the Disability Resource Center are reminded that they must submit appropriate documentation to Professor Lavine as soon as possible if they are requesting special accommodations.

Instructor

My office hours are for your benefit. I encourage you to come, whether to talk about the readings, the class discussions, or the papers. You are particularly strongly encouraged to discuss the paper topics and comments on your finished papers. Individual discussions usually result in more learning than classes alone. Use the opportunity.

My office hours are Tuesday 12:20 A.M.–1:50 P.M. in room 208 Social Sciences or by appointment. Feel free to come up after class to make an appointment. My scheduled office hours are brief because I prefer to make appointments on an individual basis. I often reserve the second half of my office hours for prearranged meetings with students. If you drop in then, be aware that you are more likely to find me unavailable. My telephone number is 621-7109, and I may be reached outside of office hours by leaving a message at the department office, 621-5045, or by e-mail, shaughan@arizonaREMOVE.edu.

Grader

The course grader is Ian Evans. He shall have primary responsibility for grading your papers and exams, and he will also comment on drafts of your papers. His office hours this semester are Monday 8:15 A.M.–9:45 A.M. and Tuesday 11:00 A.M.–12:30 P.M. in room 138 Social Sciences or by appointment. He may be reached outside of office hours by e-mail, ice@emailREMOVE.arizona.edu, in order to make appointments outside of office hours.
Ian's e-mail policy is that he won't respond to emails except for requests to schedule a meeting because his office hours won't work. He hopes that that policy will encourage people to actually come see him as opposed to communicating electronically.

11 January

First Day.

16 January

Ayer, Chapter I, 1–2, pp. 1–19.

18 January

Ayer, Chapter I, 3, pp. 19–28.

23 January

Ayer, Chapter I, 4, pp. 28–46.

25 January

Ayer, Chapter I, 5, pp. 46–57.

30 January

Ayer, Chapter II, 6–7, pp. 58–78.

1 February

Ayer, Chapter II, 8, pp. 78–84.

6 February

Ayer, Chapter II, 9–10, pp. 84–113.

8 February

Ayer, Chapter II, 11, pp. 113–135.

13 February

Ayer, Chapter III, 12–13, pp. 136–153.

15 February

Ayer, Chapter III, 14, pp. 153–162.

20 February

Ayer, Chapter III, 15, pp. 162–170.

22 February

First paper due. Ayer, Chapter IV, 16, pp. 170–179.

27 February

Ayer, Chapter IV, 17–18, pp. 179–199.

1 March

Ayer, Chapter IV, 19, pp. 199–207.

6 March

Drop date. Ayer, Chapter IV, 20–21, pp. 207–228.

8 March

Midterm examination.

13 March

Spring Break.

15 March

Spring Break.

20 March

Ayer, Chapter V, 22–23, pp. 229–263.

22 March

Ayer, Chapter V, 24, pp. 263–274.

27 March

Austin, Chapters I–II, pp. 1–19.

29 March

Austin, Chapters III–IV, pp. 20–43.

3 April

Austin, Chapters V–VI, pp. 44–61.

5 April

Austin, Chapter VII–VIII, pp. 62–83.

10 April

Austin, Chapter IX, pp. 84–103.

12 April

Austin, Chapter X, pp. 104–131.

17 April

Austin, Chapter XI, pp. 132–142.

19 April

Ammerman, Chapter 4, G. E. Moore, “A defence of common sense,” pp. 47–67.

24 April

Ammerman, Chapter 9, W. V. O. Quine, “Two dogmas of empiricism,” pp. 196–213.

26 April

Ammerman, Chapter 13, I, Gilbert Ryle’s “Descartes’ myth,” pp. 296–305 and Chapter 1, Bertrand Russell, “Descriptions,” pp. 15–24.

1 May

Last Day. Second paper due. Ammerman, Chapter 14, P. F. Strawson, “On referring,” pp. 315–334; and Ammerman, Chapter 15, Bertrand Russell, “Mr. Strawson on referring,” pp. 335–339.

10 May

Final examination.

-- ShaughanLavine - 06 Jan 2007

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