Course schedule

Date Topic Sub-topic Readings Assignments due (SC = short commentary)
Wed May 31 Philosophy of religion Rachels 2.1
The cosmological argument Rachels 2.4
The teleological argument Rachels 2.2, 2.3
Paley: Natural Theology
Mon June 5 The teleological argument Hume: Dialogues concerning natural religion SC
Dennett: Show me the science
The ontological argument Rachels 2.5
Anselm: Proslogion
Writing philosophy papers Rachels, pp.197-205
Wed June 7 Philosophy of religion (cont'd) The problem of evil Rachels, ch.3 SC
John Mackie: Free Will and the problem of evil
Pragmatism James: The Will to Believe
Pascal's Wager Encyclopaedia article on Pascal's Wager (optional)
Mon June 12 (with Jonathan Weisberg; no office hours) The external world Descartes Rachels, ch.10 SC
Descartes: Meditations
Wed June 14 Locke Locke: Essay SC; first paper
Berkeley Berkeley: Three dialogues
Stanford Encyclopaedia article on Berkeley
Mon June 19 Free will Rachels, ch. 8 & 9 SC
The problem of induction Hume: An enquiry concerning human understanding
Salmon: An encounter with David Hume
Wed June 21 Personal identity Rachels, ch. 4&5 SC
Perry: A dialogue concerning personal identity and immortality
Mon June 26 The mind-body problem Rachels, ch. 6 & 7 Second paper
Wed June 28 Lycan: The mind-body problem (optional) SC
Searle: Minds, brains and programs
Meta-ethics Plato: Euthyphro
Rachels: The challenge of cultural relativism
Rachels: Subjectivism in ethics
Mon July 3 Exam revision Third paper (optional)
Wed July 5 Final exam