Instructor / Office Goodbody 113 / 855-8916

Colin Allen, Professor, Dept. of History & Philosophy of Science and Program in Cognitive Science

<colallen@indiana.edu> (office hours Tuesday after class and by appointment)

Asst. Instructors

Dr. Koray Karaca <kkaraca@indiana.edu> (office hours tba)

Grant Goodrich <gtgoodri@indiana.edu> (Goodbody 005, office hrs by appointment)

Course Objectives

This course has two main goals:

1. Content: To teach you how to think critically about reasoning and rationality by considering two different perspectives on reasoning, one descriptive (the study of how we actually do reason) and the other normative (the logic, mathematics, and philosophy of how we should reason).
    
2. Skills: To help you develop scientific literacy, reasoning, and study skills that are foundational for success in a wide range of college courses.

Additionally, some of the things you will learn may help you convince your friends that you are smarter (or more rational?) than they are!

The key questions we will consider are: What is rationality? • Are humans rational? • Are humans the only rational animals? • Is science the most rational approach to knowledge? • Is it rational to believe in/do X? (for various Xs we'll cover in the course).

Readings

There is no text book for the course. Required readings and other items are online at IU's OnCourse system, oncourse.iu.edu.

Grading Basis

A total of 400 points will be awarded during the semester, distributed as follows:

Details of these assignments will be provided in class, and through OnCourse.

Attendance policy

This is not grade school and you are learning to become rational agents, so attendance will not be officially enforced. However, there will be approximately 50 (out of 400) points that are available only through activities in lecture or discussion throughout the semester. There will be no make up opportunities for unexcused absences.

In cases of excused absences, make up assignments will be provided. For predictable absences due to competitive events, required activities in other classes, etc., documentation must be provided at least two weeks prior to the absence. For genuine emergencies, illnesses, or deaths in the family, written documentation must be provided when you return to class. Accommodation for religious observances will be handled as described at http://www.indiana.edu/~deanfac/holidays.html (note that the form must be submitted by the student by the end of the second week of the semester to which the request applies). In all cases it will also be your responsibility to get missed notes and information from a classmate.

Statement for Students with Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a Federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact IU Disability Services for Students.

Statement about Academic Misconduct
University rules concerning academic misconduct will be rigorously enforced in this class. See IU Code of Ethics, Part II for details. You will also be required to review materials and take the test at IU School of Education plagiarism tutorial.

Topics Schedule

This schedule may be altered in response to events in class.

The class is divided into 13 mini-modules, each spanning a weekend. Typically each topic will be through a classroom activity on Thursday, discussed in sections on Friday, and theoretically analyzed on Tuesday.