Shane Mackinlay and Mark Edwards omi

Semester 1 Wednesday morning 2008

This unit introduces the idea of philosophical thought by reflecting on the main questions comprising the various topics of philosophy, and on the relation between philosophy and theology. Then, by examining excerpts from major philosophical texts, it discusses some of the major issues of epistemology: What is knowledge? Does knowledge come from our senses, or from reason? What is the relation between thought and reality? How much confidence should we place in our knowledge? What is the status of scientific and historical knowledge? The second part of the unit discusses principles of logic and clear thinking, so as to assist students both in assessing arguments and in constructing good arguments of their own.

Prerequisites:	none
Requirements:	3 hours per week
Assessment:	four short exercises	4 x 5%
	one 1,500 word essay	40%
	one 2 hour written examination	40%

Bibliography

Audi, R. Epistemology: A Contemporary Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge. London: Routledge, 1998.

Copleston, F. C. A History of Philosophy. Vols 1, 4, 5. London: Burns, Oates & Washbourne, 1947-59.

Gadamer, H.- G. Truth and Method, 2nd rev. ed. Translated by W. Glen-Doepel. Translation revised by J. Weinsheimer and D.G. Marshall. New York: Crossroads, 1992.

Greco, J., and E. Sosa., eds. The Blackwell Guide to Epistemology. Malden, MA: Blackwell, 1999.

Horner, C., and E. Westacott. Thinking Through Philosophy: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000.

Huemer, M., ed. Epistemology: Contemporary Readings. London: Routledge, 2002.

John Paul II. Fides et Ratio. Encyclical Letter. Strathfield, NSW: St Paul's, 1998.

Landesman, C. An Introduction to Epistemology. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell, 1997.

Trusted, J. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Knowledge. 2nd ed. London: Macmillan, 1997.

Zalta, E.N. ed. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. http://plato.stanford.edu.