PHILOSOPHY 361. Metaphysics. (3-0). Credit 3.

Topics concerning the fundamental nature of reality, such as what exists, the mental and the physical, universals and individuals, space and time, God.

Sec. Time Place Instructor Office Hours Phone

500 TR 9:35- ARCC 305 H.J. McCann 302F BOLT TR 11-12:30 845-7133

10:50 R 2-30-3-30

E-MAIL: h-mccann@tamu.edu

Text: Michael J. Loux, Metaphysics: A Contemporary Introduction , 3 rd edition (Routledge)

Course Requirements:

Quizzes on readings and other short assignments, to count 15% of final grade.

(One free miss permitted. Others cannot be made up without a documented excuse.)

Class participation, 10%. Students are expected to attend class, to be attentive, and to participate in class discussion.

Midterm Examination, 25%

Final Examination, 25%

Term Paper, 25%

Course Description:

Some of the most basic concerns of metaphysics are to decide what sorts of things exist, how the objects of our experience are composed, how those objects are able to change and persist through time, and whether the world of our experience may be at least in part constructed by our conceptualizations of it.

These concerns will be pursued in this course through reading and class discussions. Most of the readings will be from our text, but at times we may look at supplementary material. The object of the course will not be to solve the problems considered but to learn to think better about them, and along the way to gain a critical appreciation of some representative positions philosophers have taken on these issues.

SYLLABUS

Below is a very tentative schedule of topics to be discussed, and the reading for each topic (these are simply the chapters of our text). We will usually begin the topic with a short quiz on the chapter. Note well the dates for the examinations. There is a penalty of one letter grade for make-up examinations unless prior arrangement is made, or you have a documented excuse.

Date Topic Reading

Jan. 15 What Is Metaphysics? Introduction

Jan. 17, 22, 24 The Problem of Universals: Realism Chapter 1

Jan. 29, 31, Feb. 5 Universals (cont’d.): Nominalism Chapter 2

Feb. 7, 12, 14 The Nature of Concrete Particulars Chapter 3

Feb. 19, 26, 28 Propositions, Facts, SOA’s, Events Chapter 4

MIDTERM EXAM, Tuesday, March 4

Mar. 6, 18, 20 The Necessary and the Possible Chapter 5

(Spring Break, March 10-14)

Mar. 25, 27 Causation Chapter 6

Apr. 1, 3 Time Chapter 7

(Last day for Q-drop, Tuesday, April 1)

Apr. 8, 10 Temporal Persistence Chapter 8

Apr. 15, 17, 22 Realism and Anti-Realism Chapter 9

TERM PAPER DUE: Thursday, April 24

FINAL EXAM, Friday, May 2, 12:30-2:30 p.m.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

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