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Introduction to Philosophy

Introduction to Philosophy . Taylor Davis PhD Candidate Philosophy, UBC. Introduction to Philosophy (in general). Topics: - The Existence of God - The Limits of Science - The Problem of Free Will - The Mind/Body Problem. -After class (approx. 1 – 2 pm) -By appointment .

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Introduction to Philosophy

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  1. Introduction toPhilosophy Taylor Davis PhD Candidate Philosophy, UBC

  2. Introduction toPhilosophy (in general) Topics: - The Existence of God - The Limits of Science - The Problem of Free Will - The Mind/Body Problem

  3. -After class (approx. 1 – 2 pm) -By appointment Nuts & Bolts: Office Hours Brock Hall Annex Room 158

  4. Readings: Approx. 25 pgs/wk Nuts & Bolts: Workload Final Exam: Short-answers Essays • Review Session 2 Essays: One “small” One “big”

  5. Readings: Approx. 25 pgs/wk Nuts & Bolts: Workload Final Exam: Short-answers Essays • Review Session 2 Essays: One “small” One “big” THINK OUT LOUD

  6. Nuts & Bolts: Grading “Small” Essay: 20% “Big” Essay: 30% Final Exam: 50%

  7. About the textbook:Ignore references to “mysearchlab.com”Readings are short, but dense.

  8. The Problem of Information Overload

  9. The Problem of Information OverloadParticularly acutefor a one month course

  10. Managing Information Overload: • Study fewer issues • Focus on methods over issues • (How to do philosophy, rather than what philosophers have actually said.)

  11. What’s so great about the methods?

  12. What’s so great about the methods? Arguments are the basic “units” of philosophy. (All philosophers ever do is argue.)

  13. What’s so great about the methods? Arguments are the basic “units” of philosophy. (All philosophers ever do is argue.) • So learning to do philosophy is just learning how to argue.

  14. Good philosophy = Good arguments This is good:

  15. Good philosophy = Good arguments This is good: • Helps with information overload: • You can learn a lot about how to argue in five weeks.

  16. Good philosophy = Good arguments This is good: • Helps with information overload: • You can learn a lot about how to argue in five weeks. • 2) Knowing how to argue isuseful.

  17. Why is arguing useful?

  18. Why is arguing useful? In ordinary life, what is the point of giving an argument?

  19. Why is arguing useful? In ordinary life, what is the point of giving an argument? • To change minds.

  20. Why is arguing useful? What’s the point of changing minds?

  21. Why is arguing useful? What’s the point of changing minds? • To change behavior.

  22. Why is arguing useful? Suppose I want you to sign a document.I have two options:1) Physical force2) Convince you to sign it yourself

  23. Why is arguing useful? Suppose I want you to sign a document.I have two options:1) Physical force(very hard)2) Convince you to sign it yourself (much easier)

  24. Why is arguing useful? Giving an argument is a way of acting on the physical world:Arguments are tools for moving other people’s bodies without using physical force.

  25. Why is arguing useful? Argument is a way of exerting social influence.Good arguers can be influential people.

  26. Why is arguing useful? Social influence is a long-term benefit of learning how to do philosophy.But there is also a short-term benefit...

  27. Why is arguing useful? Writing an essay (in any class) requires defending a thesis.”Defend a thesis” just means: provide an argument.

  28. Basic Goals for the Course: 1) Exposure to philosophical topics2) Skill in arguing and writing essays

  29. Basic Goals for the Course: 1) Exposure to philosophical topics(Interesting, if not very useful)2) Skill in arguing and writing essays (Useful, if not very interesting)

  30. Basic Goals for the Course: 1) Exposure to philosophical topics(Interesting, if not very useful)(Theoretically important)2) Skill in arguing and writing essays (Useful, if not very interesting) (Practically important)

  31. One year from now... I won’t be disappointed if you can’t explain what Descartes meant by “I think, therefore I am.”* * You will need toknow such details 6 weeks from now, on the exam.

  32. One year from now... I will be disappointed if you can’t provide good arguments for: -why you deserve a raise/promotion -why you should (not) buy a house (yet) -why one movie is better than another

  33. How ArgumentsChange the World

  34. HowArguments Change the World Change mind Change behavior

  35. How ArgumentsChange the World Change behavior Change mind

  36. How ArgumentsChange the World Change behavior Change mind Beliefs you already have Beliefs I want you to have

  37. How Arguments Change the World Building Blocks of an Argument: Premises: P1) We should all save wildlife. P2) The whales are wildlife. Conclusion: C) We should all save the whales.

  38. How Arguments Change the World Building Blocks of an Argument: Premises: Beliefs you already have P1) We should all save wildlife. P2) The whales are wildlife. Conclusion: C) We should all save the whales.

  39. How Arguments Change the World Building Blocks of an Argument: Premises: Beliefs you already have P1) We should all save wildlife. P2) The whales are wildlife. Conclusion: Beliefs I want you to have C) We should all save the whales.

  40. How Arguments Change the World Change behavior Change mind Beliefs you already have Premises Beliefs I want you to have Conclusion

  41. What connects the premises with the conclusion? ? Beliefs you already have Beliefs I want you to have

  42. What connects the premises with the conclusion? Logic. ? Beliefs you already have Beliefs I want you to have

  43. What connects the premises with the conclusion? When an argument is constructed properly, the audience is “forced”—by logic—to accept the conclusion.

  44. If you believe this... Premises: Then you must also believe this. P1) We should all save wildlife. P2) The whales are wildlife. Conclusion: C) We should all save the whales.

  45. To accept the premises and still reject the conclusion is to contradict yourself: “We should save wildlife and not save it.” or “Whales are wildlife and they aren’t wildlife.”

  46. Arguments use logic to “attach” beliefs you want the audience to hold to beliefs they already hold. The audience must choose: 1) accept your conclusion 2) reject their own beliefs 3) believe a contradiction

  47. Arguments use logic to “attach” beliefs you want the audience to hold to beliefs they already hold. The audience must choose: 1) accept your conclusion 2) reject their own beliefs 3) believe a contradiction

  48. Another Building Block: Assumptions C) Therefore, you should sign my petition calling for a public ban on “Hotel California.” P1) “Hotel California” is played out—everybody’s heard it way too many times.

  49. Another Building Block: Assumptions Premises:P1) “Hotel California” is played out—everybody’s heard it way too many times. Conclusion:C) You should sign my petition calling for a ban on “Hotel California.”

  50. Another Building Block: Assumptions Premises:P1) “Hotel California” is played out—everybody’s heard it way too many times. Conclusion:C) You should sign my petition calling for a ban on “Hotel California.” The conclusion doesn’t literally follow, by logic.

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