Syllabus

Philosophy 4830

Senior Seminar in Philosophy of Perception

Section 001                                                                                                                              Professor Michael Tooley
MWF 10:00-10:50                                                                                                                   Office hours:   Monday 12 - 2, and Wednesday, 12 - 1
Hellems 247                                                                                                                             Hellems, Room 277
 

Textbooks

        The texts that we shall be using in this course are as follows:

David M. Armstrong, A Materialist Theory of the Mind (New York: Humanities Press, 1968)

Michael Huemer, Skepticism and the Veil of Perception (New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2001)

        Some topics will require additional readings.  Those readings will be available on E-reserve.

        Two useful sources of (generally) good overview articles for many of the central topics in this course are the Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Paul Edwards (8 volumes, plus a 1996 Supplement, edited by Donald M. Borchert; call number: B41 .E5), and the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Edward Craig (10 volumes; call number: B51 .R68).  A copy of the former is available in the Reference room of Norlin Library.  Copies of the latter are stored offsite.)

        Another useful source, though it is still in a very incomplete state, as many of the articles have not yet been written, is the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, found online at http://plato.stanford.edu/
 

Required Work

1.  Since this is a senior seminar, both regular attendance and participation in seminar discussions is important.

2. Because it is a seminar, there will be no final examination.
   
3. The written work for the course will take the form of two essays, with the option of writing a third essay.  If you do two essays, each will count for one-half of your final grade.  If you do three essays, your grade will be based upon the best two.
 
Each essay should be between 1500 and 2000 words in length.  The due dates for the essays are as follows:

    First Essay:                        Monday, March 10

    Second Essay:                    Monday, April 14

    Optional Third Essay:      Monday, April 28

        A list of possible essay topics is available on this course website.  If there is a slightly different topic on which you would like to write an essay, please discuss the topic that you have in mind with me to see whether or not it is suitable.

Class Web Site

        Course materials can be found online at the following location:

http://spot.colorado.edu/~tooley/Philosophy4830.html
  

Topics and Readings

I.   Introduction:  The Nature of Philosophy

II.  Perception:  A Brief Overview

Michael Huemer, “Introduction: The Problem of Perceptual Knowledge”, chapter I of Skepticism and the Veil of Perception, pp. 1-5.

III.  Skepticism

Michael Huemer, “The Lure of Radical Skepticism”, chapter II of Skepticism and the Veil of Perception, pp. 7-25.

Michael Huemer, “Easy Answers to Skepticism”, chapter III of Skepticism and the Veil of Perception, pp. 27-49.

IV.  David Armstrong’s Version of Direct Realism

1.  David M. Armstrong on Knowledge and Inference

David M. Armstrong, “Knowledge and Inference”, chapter 9 of A Materialist Theory of the Mind, pp. 187-207.

2.  David M. Armstrong’s Account of Perception and Sensory Illusion in Perception and the Physical World

David Armstrong, “The Analysis of Sensory Illusion”, chapter 7 of Perception and the Physical World, pp. 80-98.  (E-reserve)

David Armstrong, “The Nature of Perception”, chapter 9 of Perception and the Physical World, pp. 105-22.  (E-reserve)

3.  David Armstrong on Perception and Belief

David M. Armstrong, “Perception and Belief”, chapter 10 of A Materialist Theory of the Mind, pp. 208-244.

4.  David Armstrong on Perception and Behavior

David M. Armstrong, “Perception and Behavior”, chapter 11 of A Materialist Theory of the Mind, pp. 245-269.

5.  David Armstrong on the Secondary Qualities

David M. Armstrong, “The Secondary Qualities”, chapter 12 of A Materialist Theory of the Mind, pp. 270-290.

V. Michael Huemer on Direct Realism Versus Indirect Realism

1.  Michael Huemer’s Version of Direct Realism

Michael Huemer, “A Version of Direct Realism”, chapter IV of Skepticism and the Veil of Perception, pp. 51-92.

2. Michael Huemer’s Version of Foundationalism
 
Michael Huemer, “A Version of Foundationalism”, chapter V of Skepticism and the Veil of Perception, pp. 93-117.

3. Michael Huemer on Objections to Direct Realism

Michael Huemer, “Objections to Direct Realism”, chapter VI of Skepticism and the Veil of Perception, pp. 119-147.

4. Michael Huemer on an Objection to Indirect Realism

Michael Huemer, “An Objection to Indirect Realism:  The Problem of Spatial Properties”, chapter VII of Skepticism and the Veil of Perception, pp. 149-174.

5. Michael Huemer on Skepticism and Direct Realism

Michael Huemer, “The Direct Realist’s Answer to Skepticism”, chapter VIII of Skepticism and the Veil of Perception, pp. 175-196.

VI.  Frank Jackson and the Existence of Sense-Data

Frank Jackson, “The Case for Sense Data”, chapter 4 of Perception: A Representative Theory, pp. 88-119.  (E-reserve)

Frank Jackson, “Color and Science”, chapter 5 of Perception: A Representative Theory, pp. 120-137.  (E-reserve)

VII.  Indirect Realism and the Problem of Skepticism

Michael Tooley, “A Refutation of Physical-World Skepticism?”




Statements Concerning Various Matters

The University currently recommends the inclusion in all syllabi of statements dealing with the following matters:

(1) Students with Disabilities

        If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs may be addressed.  Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities.  Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, and http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices.

(2) Religious Observances Policy Statement

        Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance.  In this class, students who are absent from a class due to a religious observance should talk to me about the material that I covered in that class.  If a religious observance conflicts with the date of the final examination, please inform me of this in writing as early as possible, so that alternative arrangements can be made.

(3) Classroom Behavior Policy Statement

        Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities.  Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records.  See polices at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and at http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code. 

(4) Statement concerning Sexual Harassment and Amorous Relationships

        The University of Colorado at Boulder policy on Discrimination and Harassment, the University of Colorado policy on Sexual Harassment and the University of Colorado policy on Amorous Relationships apply to all students, staff and faculty.  Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550.  Information about the ODH, the above referenced policies and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained at http://www.colorado.edu/odh.

(5) Statement concerning the Boulder Campus Honor Code
 
All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior.  All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html  and at http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/ .