All of us have posed questions about if we know some fact or class of facts.  Is my girlfriend or boyfriend cheating on me? Do I know whether or not government official X is guilty? Do I know that person? Can I know if my employer is lying to me? Such practical questions presuppose answers to deeper philosophical questions regarding the nature, sources, and extent of human knowledge.  This class will look important answers to these philosophical questions as given by historical and contemporary thinkers from Philosophy and Psychology.  It will also examine the background assumptions and methodology behind the views of these thinkers.

Books

Human Knowledge: Classical and Contemporary Readings (ed.) Paul Moser (Optional)

Some On-line book sites:
addall (search engine)
amazon

Most Articles will also be available electronically through the links in this syllabus page.

Password for electronic reserve materials: wallis

Username for electronic reserve materials: wallis

Please be advised that in using electronic material, you agree to the following:

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. 

I strongly encourage non-majors and students with limited experience in upper division philosophy courses to consult the resources listed on the Reading and Writing Philosophy Papers Page 

April 2-6: Spring Recess (Classes Not In Session) 

Week 16:  Fourth Test Due  Monday May 21st by 12:15 (During the final period for class)
 
 
 

Course Requirements

Course grades will be based upon four 3-4 typed page take-home tests, two labs,  and weekly homework assignments.  Grades for each test will be assigned as A-F.  Labs will be complete/incomplete.  Test scores will be weighted as follows: 10%  of course grade for the 1st test, 20% course grade for each of the 2nd-4th tests.  The labs will count for 10% of your grade.  Weekly homework assignments will count for 20% of your grade.  Should I suspect students are not submitting their own original work on tests (e.x. word for word identical passages in two different tests) I will switch to in-class essay tests.  The tests will be written in response to questions (handed out the week before) and will be of a primarily discursive nature.

The university policy on withdrawals will be followed.

Make-up exams: will be permitted only for serious illness and mandatory University policies. A physicians' note will be required for illness. If you will need to take a make-up exam, you must send an e-mail (preferred) or leave a message on voice mail (985-5344) no later than 9:00 a.m. the day of the exam. Your message must include a telephone number or e-mail address where I can reach you later that evening and the next day to schedule the make-up exam.

Cheating and Plagiarism: The CSULB Policy on Cheating and Plagiarism will be followed strictly.  Students who have any questions or uncertainty whatsoever about this policy are responsible for meeting individually with the instructor to discuss the policy. Students found to be cheating on any exam, quiz, or other course element will be FAILED for the COURSE and will be reported to the Office of Judicial Affairs for possible probation, suspension, or expulsion.

Web Resources

I am setting up a web site which will contain the syllabus, lecture slides from lectures already given, links, and test questions. Lecture slides and links are not required course material. They are posted solely to further aid students in their studies. However, students often comment upon the usefulness of this material and I strongly encourage students to visit the site at least once.

Need some help with your writing? Try the Style and Writing Tips page.

The university policy on withdrawals will be followed.  Got Test Anxiety?  Check out these pages.

Dr. Tom Stevens Learning Improvement Site

49'er Test Anxiety Article

Urbana-Champagne Test Anxiety Page

Western Ontario Test Anxiety Page

Make-up exams: will be permitted only for serious illness and mandatory University policies. A physicians' note will be required for illness. If you will need to take a make-up exam, you must leave a message on voice mail (985-4345) no later than 9:00 a.m. the day of the exam or send an e-mail to me by that time. Your message must include a telephone number or e-mail address where I can reach you later that evening and the next day to schedule the make-up exam.

Cheating and Plagiarism: The CSULB Policy on Cheating and Plagiarism will be followed strictly. (See Fall 2002 Schedule of Classes, pp. 87-8.) Students who have any questions or uncertainty whatsoever about this policy are responsible for meeting individually with the instructor to discuss the policy. Students found to be cheating on any exam, quiz, or other course element will be FAILED for the COURSE and will be reported to the Office of Judicial Affairs for possible probation, suspension, or expulsion.