PHILOSOPHY 348
Free Will
Fall 2003
Homework and Reading Assignments

Readings in the Pereboom book will be indicated by "P" followed by the article number. Readings in the Watson book will be indicated by "W" followed by the article number.

• For Monday 9/8/03: Read P4, focusing mainly on the part beginning in the middle of p. 30 where there it is asked "How is it that these two propositions are not contradictory and inconsistent?" Also read Chapter 5,"Fate," from the first edition of Richard Taylor's Metaphysics. Copies distributed in class.
• For Wednesday 9/10/03: Think about the arguments we discussed in class on 9/8. (You can get some of the notes from the class, including formulations of the arguments, here. Come in with a paragraph explaining what Augustine would say about the Foreknowledge Argument. Also, if you have any of your own comments about either argument, write them down as well.
• For Monday 9/15/03: Read P2, P3, and W3. (We may not get to W3 in this class.) Homework Assignment 1 is due on 9/15/03. You can get the assignment here.
• For Monday 9/22/03: We will talk briefly about P2 and W3 (previously assigned but not yet discussed). Then we will go on the readings about compatibilism listed on the syllabus. For now, focus on P6 and P7.
• For Wednesday 9/24/03: Homework Assignment 2 is due. You can get it here: Assignment 2.
• For Monday 9/26/03: Read Essay P10 (by A.J. Ayer) and also section 3, pp. 146-7 in the same book. This is a small part of an article by Roderick Chisholm.
• For Monday 10/20/03: Read the article by Strawson (W4, P11). It's hard. Write up a response to the following: what, exactly, is his main point? What is the central argument for it? If you have a comment or two, add them. This is the Assignment 4. It's due in class on Monday. Or, better, email it to me before class.
• For Wednesday October 29, 2003: I hope that class today (10/27) helped to clarify Frankfurt's views about freedom. We'll discuss them on Wednesday. Read articles W17 (Watson) and W19 (Wolf). Here are some things to write about: 1) Evaluate any of the criticisms Watson and Wolf make of Frankfurt. (2) Discuss whether either of their own accounts of freedom works out better than Frankfurt's.
• Read the article by Chisholm (W1, P12). There's a writing assignment here: Chisholm Assignment.
• Read the article by Frankfurt (W8, P13). Here's a writing assignment: Frankfurt Assignment.

Last updated: November 12, 2003 by Richard Feldman