PHIL 301

History of Philosophy

"The Search for Mind"

Spring Quarter 2007

Dr. Jeff Johnson

TAKE-HOME FINAL EXAMINATION  

You may either write on ONE of the following questions, with a page limit of five, double-spaced pages, or TWO of them with page limits of 3 pages per question.  

1.  Based on your understanding of recent anthropological theory, do different cultures think differently?  Is there such a thing as the “primitive mind?”  Is reality “socially constructed?”  What does all of this have to say about a “science of the mind?”  

2.  Explain the debate between thinkers like Steven Pinker, and Noam Chomsky and Steven Jay Gould about the adaptive value of language.  Use the tool of inference to the best explanation to assess the evidence.  

3.  Explain my arguments for “secular natural law,” or “biologically-based moral realism.”

This quarter we will focus on the history of an idea, the nature and operation of the human mind.  Although we will begin with the views of some of the founders of modern philosophy in the 17th Century, most of our time will be spent  with developments in the 19th and 20th Centuries.  Our goal is to provide some historical background for the exciting, contemporary study of the mind in the interdisciplinary field of cognitive science.

We will be reading the better part of two excellent books:

The Science of the Mind, 2nd Edition by Owen Flanagan

The Mind's New Science by Howard Gardner

UWR Outcomes for Upper Division Writing Intensive Courses:

• Students will produce at least 5,000 words (including drafts, in-class writing, informal papers, and polished papers); 2,000 words of this total should be in polished papers which students have revised after receiving feedback and criticism.

• Students will practice the forms of writing and reflect upon the nature of the writing used by graduates and professionals in the discipline the course represents.

• Students will write at least one paper integrating information from more than one source, employing the appropriate documentation style for the discipline represented by the course.

• Students will draft, revise, and edit their formal written work.

• Students will seek assistance from a Writing Tutor in the Writing Lab when needed and when referred by the instructor.

Additional Outcomes:

• Gain familiarity with the philosophical origins of the study of mind

• Gain familiarity with Darwin's theories of Descent with Modification and Natural Selection

• Gain familiarity with Freud's views of the mind

• Gain familiarity with the behaviorist psychology of B. F. Skinner

• Gain familiarity with the origins of contemporary cognitive psychology

• Gain familiarity with the origins of Artificial Intelligence

• Gain familiarity with Chomsky's linguistic theory

• Gain familiarity with the origins of anthropological study of the mind

• Gain familiarity with the origins of neuroscience

• Gain familiarity with the origins of evolutionary psychology and moral reasoning

Means of Assessment and Grading:

• Six short (750 to 1200 words) discussion papers -- combined 40% of course grade (outcomes 1 - 6)

• A 2500 to 4000 word analytical paper -- 30% of course grade. (outcomes 1 - 10)

• 15 minute, in-class presentation on analytical paper -- 10% of course grade.  (outcomes 1 - 10)

• Attendance and participation in class discussions -- 10% of course grade (outcomes 1 - 10)

• Final exam on linguistics, anthropology, neuroscience, and evolutionary psychology -- 10% of course grade (outcomes 7-10)

• Please note: a grade of at least C- is required in order for this course to count toward the University Writing Requirement 

ACADEMIC HONESTY

I am including below Eastern's Academic Honesty Code.  It is vitally important that you carefully read it, and that you understand that it is my intention to follow this code to the letter.  I really can't think of a better way to ruin your experience with this course, than to disregard this code.  Obviously, if you have any questions, I can't urge you too strongly to ask me.

ACADEMIC HONESTY CODE

All members of the Eastern Oregon University academic community are responsible for compliance with its Academic Honesty Code. Students are required to report violations to the respective faculty member of a course. Provisions of the Academic Honesty Code are:

1. Collaboration while taking any quizzes, in-class examinations, or take home examinations without the instructor's written approval is forbidden. The faculty member is responsible for defining limits for other collaborative learning activities for each course.

2. Plagiarism or representation of the work of others as one's own is forbidden. The faculty member will make clear the format for properly citing sources of information not original by the student.

3. Explicit approval by all instructors is required if the same work is to be submitted to more than one course, even if is not within the same term.

Violations of the Academic Honesty Code may result in both academic and behavioral penalties including possible suspension or expulsion from the University.

An automatic grade of zero for any work which is a violation of the Academic Honesty Code will be assigned by the instructor. The instructor may also assign a grade of F for the course after discussion with the respective School Dean. Students may appeal the course grade to the respective School Dean, who is the final level of appeal on the matter of course grade penalties for academic dishonesty.

The faculty member is also required to file a disciplinary complaint to the Vice President for Student Affairs about any student believed to have violated the Academic Honesty Code. If deemed appropriate, hearing procedures will be implemented by a University Hearing Officer as outlined in the Code of Student Conduct. Possible sanctions considered by the Student Conduct Committee include probation, suspension, and expulsion.

TENTATIVE CALENDAR