PHIL/PSY 470

Philosophical Psychology

Winter Quarter 2007

Dr. Jeff Johnson

TAKE-HOME FINAL EXAM  

In this last section of our course, the assigned reading was my own professional work.  You should write three very short essays (2-3 pages) in which you explain to a reader not directly familiar with the material in our class, what the thesis of each paper was, and how my argument in defense of the thesis worked.  You should feel free to offer any critical remarks that seem appropriate.  For the very last article on tort law,  you may confine your analysis to the sections dealing with "secular natural law", on pages 23-38.  

Your exam is due, either electronically, or hard-copy, by the end of the day, Tuesday, March 20.

The most significant thing about our species is that almost all us are people -- conscious, self-conscious, language-using, reasoning, and moral entities.  How in the world is that possible?  Philosophical psychology and its empirically driven cousin, cognitive science, are devoted to trying to understand how we are capable of doing these amazing things.  Many of my students, and perhaps most of my students who are psychology majors, think that the answers are empirical and will be found in the laboratory.  It is absolutely true that cognitive science has produced remarkable results in the last fifty years or so.  Any philosophy of mind that tried to proceed in ignorance of these discoveries would be laughably "ivory tower."  But at the same time, the empirical disciplines cannot ignore the deep conceptual debates that philosophers and theologians have been struggling with for as long as we have had a written record in the western tradition.

This quarter we will survey some of the most pressing issues in contemporary philosophical psychology.  Our course will be reading, writing, and thinking intensive.  Please be prepared to invest some real time and effort this quarter.  In return I think I can promise you a fascinating tour through some of the most important theoretical work that unites the disciplines of psychology and philosophy (to say nothing of evolutionary biology, linguistics, computer science, anthropology, and many others).

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:

• Understand the the traditional mind/body problem

• Understand the conceptual issues that bedevil contemporary materialism

• Understand the philosophical and scientific controversies concerning artificial intelligence

• Understand the philosophical and scientific controversies concerning consciousness

• Understand the philosophical and scientific controversies concerning contemporary neuroscience

• Understand the philosophical and scientific controversies concerning evolutionary psychology

• Understand the philosophical and scientific controversies concerning personal identity

• Understand the philosophical and scientific controversies concerning free will

• Understand the philosophical and scientific controversies concerning language

• Understand the philosophical and scientific controversies concerning moral reasoning

• Read philosophical and psychological texts critically and with understanding.

• Write effectively about philosophical, political, legal, and scientific  controversies

Means of Assessment and Grading:

• Seven short (750 to 1200 words) discussion papers -- combined 40% of course grade (outcomes 1 - 7)

• A 2500 to 4000 word analytical paper -- 40% of course grade. (outcomes 1- 10)

• Attendance and participation in class discussions -- 10% of course grade (outcomes 1 - 7)

• Final exam on free will, language, and moral reasoning -- 10% of course grade (outcomes 8 - 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