FIRST YEAR SEMINAR IN PHILOSOPHY: RELATIVISM
PHIL 196, Sec. 004: TTh 4pm-5:30pm in G160 Angell Hall
The University of Michigan
Fall 2004
Instructor: James Woodbridge
email address: jwood@umich.edu
Course Webpage: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jwood/umich/Phil196.htm
Office Hours: T 2pm-3pm, W 12:30pm-2pm, and by appointment
Office: 2203 Angell Hall
Office Phone: 764-6882
Dept. Phone: 764-6285
RESPONSE ESSAY 4
In Relativism and Reality, Chapter 10, Sections 2-4 (pp. 146-155), Kirk discusses the relationship between the "everyday"
conception of the world and the scientfic conception. Write a 2-page paper reacting to this material.
Aim to do the following sorts of things:
- In your own words, explain as clearly as you can the position Kirk offers and the worry it is supposed to address.
- Explain the reasoning involved on this point--How does Kirk argue for his position? What assumptions about realism does he address?
- Evaluate the arguments--Do you think Kirk's reasoning about those assumptions works? Explain why or why not. Do you think the position Kirk develops
by responding to those assumptions is a genuinely realist position? Does his position answer the worry it is supposed to address? Explain.
- Identify further questions that can be raised about Kirk's view in light of your assessment of what is said in these Sections.
Keep your paper within the 2-page limit!
Your paper is due in my mailbox Monday, November 1st by 3pm.