Instructor: Briana Toole Office: WAG 410A Office Hours: MW 2-4 Course Summary We pretend that philosophical problems divide into the various subfields of philosophy, but to take this pretense too seriously is a mistake. Philosophical problems often raise issues within more than one subfield, and require knowledge of and insights from several subfields. This course will highlight some recent, cutting-edge work on problems at the overlap of ethics and epistemology. In a number of areas, ethicists have developed well-known arguments, positions and distinctions that we might find helpful in applying to epistemology. In the same vein, our understanding of issues in epistemology might shed light on some important issues in ethics. Major topics will be: (1) Disagreement in Ethics and Epistemology, (2) Norms of Belief (3) Epistemic Responsibility and Evaluation Senior Seminar in Philosophy: From Ethics to Epistemology 1
Table of Contents Course Information 3 Course Schedule 4 Course Requirements 7 Course Policies 9 University Policies 10 2
Course Information From Ethics to Epistemology T/Th 2:30-4:00 WAG 207 Required Texts: The Oxford Handbook of Epistemology Additional reading materials will be made available on the class website Prerequisites: Students must have taken the following courses prior to enrolling in this course: Knowledge and Reality (PHL 310) or Theory of Knowledge (PHL 321K) and Ethical Theories (PHL 325K) Course Goals: The primary goal of this course is to give you the tools to engage carefully and reflectively with the world through philosophy. As a discipline, philosophy s goal is to gain knowledge (of the world and ourselves). At the same time, it aims to understand the conditions that make knowledge possible, and is thus self-reflective. One way to equip you with tools to do philosophy is to read the works of people who have taken up this task before you. Therefore, we ll read a wide selection of philosophers to train ourselves to think along with them. There are three things I want you to be able to do by the end of the course: 1. Critically analyze claims, their underlying assumptions and their implications 2. Generate questions, explanations, conjectures, hypotheses, alternative ideas and possible solutions in response to issues in ethics and epistemology 3. Draw links and make effective comparisons between different approaches in ethics and epistemology 3
Course Schedule Note: Readings are to be completed before the lecture day. Readings labeled OH are in The Oxford Handbook of Epistemology. Readings labeled CV are on Canvas. Tuesday Thursday Assignment 9/1 9/3 Part 1: Disagreement in Ethics and Epistemology Week 1 Moral versus Non- Moral Explanations Week 2 Explaining Moral and Non-Moral Disagreement: Relativism Week 3 Explaining Moral and Non-Moral Disagreement: Relativism Continued OH: Explanation and Epistemology William G. Lycan OH: Epistemology and Ethics Noah Lemons Ethics and Observation Gilbert Harman Moral Explanations Nicholas Sturgeon 9/8 9/10 Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong, Chapter 1 J.L. Mackie Moral Relativism and Moral Objectivity, Chapter 1 Gilbert Harman and JJ Thomson Motivations for Relativism as a Solution to Disagreements Steven Hales Disagreement: Ethics and Elsewhere Folke Tersman 9/15 9/17 What is Relativism Paul Boghossian In Defense of Epistemic Relativism - Ram Neta Optional (CV): Nominalism, Naturalism, Epistemic Relativism Gideon Rosen 4
9/22 9/24 Week 4 Explaining Moral and Non-Moral Disagreement: Permissivism Reasonable Religious Disagreements Richard Feldman Optional (CV): Can Evidence Be Permissive Roger White Evidence Can Be Permissive Tom Kelly Optional (CV): Permission to Believe Miriam Schoenfield 9/29 10/1 Week 5 The Ethics of Belief The Ethics of Belief William Clifford The Will to Believe William James 10/6 10/8 Part 2: Norms of Belief Week 6 Duties to Believe Week 7 Duties to Believe Continued OH: Epistemological Duties Richard Feldman We have no positive epistemic duties Mark Nelson 10/13 10/15 An Argument for Uniqueness about Evidential Support Sinan Dogramaci and Sophie Horowitz Exam Exam 10/20 10/22 Week 8 Epistemic Normativity Epistemic Obligations Richard Feldman Epistemic Normativity Hilary Kornblith 5
10/27 10/29 Part 3: Epistemic Responsibility and Evaluation Week 9 Doxastic Voluntarism Week 10 Doxastic Involuntarism Week 11 Moral Evaluation of Rational Beliefs Pascal s Wager (Pensées) Blaise Pascal Doxastic Self- Control Sarah Paul Deciding to Believe Bernard Williams 11/3 11/5 Controlling Attitudes and Responsibility for Believing Pamela Hieronymi Doxastic Voluntarism and the Ethics of Belief Robert Audi 11/10 11/12 The Relativism of Blame and Williams Relativism of Distance Miranda Fricker Epistemic partiality in friendship Sarah Stroud 11/17 11/19 Week 12 Paper Presentations Paper Presentations Presentation Last name A-M Last name N-Z 11/24 11/26 Week 13 Peer Review Thanksgiving Paper Draft 12/1 12/3 Week 14 Reflections and Future Explorations Course Wrap-up Final Paper University Dates: Check the Academic Calendar for key dates. http://registrar.utexas.edu/calendars 6
Course Requirements 20% Short Paper 40% Midterm Paper Presentation 30% Final Paper 10% 20% Short Paper The short paper is an argument analysis of one of the texts read during the course. You must choose a paper and reconstruct the author s argument this means exploring and fleshing out any implicit assumptions on which the author s argument depends. Having reconstructed the author s argument, formulate your own argument, either defending or denying the author s position. The short paper must be 4-6 pages, double-spaced. Whichever reading you choose, you must submit your paper before the lecture on that reading. (For example, if you choose to write on Folke Tersman s Disagreement: Ethics and Elsewhere, you must submit the paper before the class meets September 10.) 30% Midterm The midterm exam will be conducted in class on Thursday, October 15. Bring your own bluebook. The exam will consist of five essays questions, of which you must answer three. These five questions will be selected from a pool of seven questions that I will distribute in class one week prior to the exam. 7
10% Paper Presentation A presentation of the thesis and argument of your final paper is required in the final two weeks of the course. Please see the course schedule to determine when you will present. You must include a handout or powerpoint outlining your argument. 40% Final Paper The final paper is on a topic of your choosing. You should, however, have the topic approved by me by November 3. There are several options for what you might to do in this paper. You might raise a challenge to a particular view, or you might suggest a unique solution to a problem in ethics or epistemology. Ideally, I d like to see you doing what we ve done throughout this course making use of ideas in one field to understand or solve a problem in another. The final paper must be 10-12 pages, double-spaced, in TNR size 12 font. Include page numbers at the bottom right-hand side of each page. Before the submission deadline, a class meeting will be dedicated to peer reviewing first drafts. The first draft will not be graded; however, attendance at this session is mandatory for all students. You must bring a completed draft (including your references page) to this session. The peer-review session will take place Tuesday, November 24 The final paper is due Thursday, December 3 8
Course Policies Discussion Philosophy classrooms are places where just about any topic can come up. We grapple with some difficult ideas, not just in terms of their complexity, but also in terms of their emotional impact. Because such conversations can be difficult, I do my best to model the kind of participation I'd like to see from students: a charitable, careful, and attentive approach. First, being "charitable" means interpreting other people's words in the best possible light. This is how one ought to engage philosophical texts and other students: assume that people are trying to make sense and communicate something important. Second, being "careful" means: paying attention to your word choice and claims; when presenting claims, backing them up with evidence; avoiding sweeping generalizations; and talking about your own experience and views rather than making assumptions about other people's. Finally, being "attentive" means listening to what it is that people are saying and actively repeating/summarizing before going on to make a critical point or disagree. Communication Important announcements and assignments will be communicated to you via email, on Canvas, or in class. It is your responsibility to make sure you are up to date with the latest news. So check your email daily and don t miss class. You are welcome to email me with any questions you have. However, please keep in mind that: a. I do not respond to emails after 9 PM, or after 5 PM the day before a test or a paper is due. b. I do not answer questions that are clearly answered on the syllabus, in announcements that have been made in class, or in an assignment. Electronic Etiquette Phones, tablets, laptops and other electronics are not allowed in class. Numerous studies show that students learn better without using laptops in class, even if the laptops are used exclusively for notetaking. Laptops and other electronics can also be distracting for other students. If you have a disability that makes it difficult for you to take notes by hand, please let me know and I will find a note-taker for you. 9
University Policies Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. For further information, please visit the Student Judicial Services web site: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs. Plagiarism If you use words or ideas that are not your own you must cite your sources. Otherwise you will be guilty of plagiarism. To learn more go to the following URL: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/scholdis_plagiarism.php. Religious Holidays By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, you will be given an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence. Students with Disabilities Any student with a documented disability (physical or cognitive) who requires academic accommodations, should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities area of the Office of the Dean of Students at 512-471-6259 (voice) or 512-471-4641 (TTY for users who are deaf or hard of hearing), as soon as possible to request an official letter outlining authorized accommodations. 10