Phil 122: Theory of Knowledge

Fall 2019 • University of California, Berkeley

Course Description

In this course we will study contemporary classics of epistemology (a.k.a. the theory of knowledge) on the topics of skepticism, justification, foundationalism, the relation between epistemology and other areas of philosophy, tracking, closure, reliabilism, internalism, and externalism, among others.

Required Texts

The book An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge, by Noah Lemos, is the only required book. All readings which are not in the Lemos book will be made available electronically on bCourses.

Course Mechanics

Lectures and Discussion: I lecture with slides. The slides will be used to focus discussion and organize complex material; they are not a substitute for the readings. The slides will be made available on bCourses a few days after lecture. Students are expected to take careful notes and will be held responsible for the material discussed in class not found on the slides or in the readings.

Reading Assignments: Students are required to read each selection prior to class. You should take notes while reading, keeping track of questions or issues that arise. You should bring both the reading and the notes/questions to class.

Grading

• Participation: 10%
• Exams 1 and 2: 15% and 20% (see below for explanation)
• Final exam: 25%
• Term paper: 30%, due on bCourses at 5:00 pm on Friday, December 13

The first two exams will include a mixture of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, questions calling for a paragraph-length answer, and questions calling for a 1–2 page answer. The final exam will include a mixture of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and questions calling for a paragraph-length answer. The final exam will be comprehensive, but will be concentrated more heavily on the material covered after exam 2.

If the student performs better on exam 1 than on exam 2, then exam 1 will count for 20% of the final grade, and exam 2 15%. Otherwise, exam 1 will count for 15% of the final grade, and exam 2 20%.

Course Policies

Attendance: There is no formal requirement for you to attend the lectures. However, all of the exams include questions that are designed specifically to test whether you attended, paid attention, and took notes during the lectures (as opposed to just studying the readings and slides), so absences will result in a lower overall grade.

Lateness: The final paper must be submitted to bCourses before the date/time it is due; otherwise it will be considered late. A late paper will immediately result in a reduction of 1 full letter grade. For each additional 24 hours it is late, the grade will be reduced by 1/3 of a letter grade (B reduced to B-, C+ reduced to C, etc.). In fairness to students who make sacrifices to ensure that their work is turned in on time, no exceptions can be made to this policy unless you discuss it with me or Sven well in advance of the due date.

Academic Integrity: All suspicions of academic misconduct will be reported to the Center for Student Conduct according to university policy. Academic misconduct is not just blatant cheating (e.g., copying off another student during an exam), but includes copying other students’ essays; copying or using old essays; forgetting to cite material you took from an outside resource; turning in work completed in total or in part by another. This is an incomplete list; if you have questions concerning academic misconduct it is your responsibility to ask me or Sven for advice.

Tentative Reading Schedule (subject to change)