Instructor: Stephen Morris
Office: 2N/229
Telephone: 982-2895
Office Hours: M: 4:30-6:30 & by appointment
E-mail: stephen.morris@csi.cuny.edu
 
Required Text: Gary Watson, Free Will, Second Edition
 
Course Description: Few subjects in the history of philosophy have generated as much interest as the question of whether, and to what extent, human beings are capable of exercising free will.  Despite all the discussion that has taken place, however, philosophers have yet to reach a consensus on this issue.  This course explores some of the primary arguments given for the existence of human free will as well as some of the key challenges for these arguments that derive from theoretical as well as scientific and theological considerations.  We will also explore contemporary experimental approaches that philosophers have used to help clarify some of the issues at stake in the free will debate.
 
Course Objectives:
* The student will be able to identify why free will is often considered to be impossible given the truth of causal determinism.
* The student will be able to distinguish between compatibilist and incompatibilist arguments for free will.
* The student will be able to identify some of the strongest skeptical challenges against the view that human beings can possess free will.
* The student will be able to acquire a better understanding of what is at stake in free will debate by identifying the role that free will plays in philosophical discussions concerning moral responsibility, reward and punishment, and theological issues.
 
Grading Scale:
A=100-93; A-=92-90; B+=89-87; B=86-83; B-=82-80; C+=79-77; C=76-70; D=69-60; F<60
**Note: Each assignment (other than in-class assignments) will be graded numerically from 0­-100. Each assignment will also receive a letter grade that will correspond to the numerical value in terms of its percentage out of 100. For instance, a paper or exam that is given a grade of 87.7 will receive a B+.
 
Course Requirements: (Percentages of final grade)
* Participation                        10%
* In-class assignments            10%
* Exam 1                                 15%
* Exam 2                                 15%
* Exam 3                                 15%
* Exam 4                                 15%
* Term Paper                          20%
 

* In regards to written work, each student will be graded according to the following criteria:
            – The ability to express one’s ideas clearly
            – The ability to accurately describe the various philosophical positions being considered
– Relevance of the student’s written work to the question(s) being asked – don’t go off on a tangent!
– The ability to reason/think critically
 
* In terms of Extra Credit, there will likely be opportunities to earn two extra credit points during the semester on particular days chosen by the professor. Students attending that day and signing an attendance sheet will earn an extra credit point on the day an extra credit point is offered. Note that there will be no other opportunities for extra credit UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES (need a certain grade to get into a program, to maintain a scholarship, to graduate, international terrorists have kidnapped your parents and threatened to kill them if you don’t get an A in this class, etc.). If a student approaches me with a request for any additional extra credit beyond what is stated above, he or she will be referred to this section of the syllabus.
 
Participation:
Your participation grade will be determined by the degree to which you participate in class discussions of the course material (proposing answers to the questions asked, asking questions of your own, etc.), as well as by your general conduct in the classroom.  Students will begin the class with an 80% participation grade.  Students can increase their grade by making a positive contribution to class discussion of the material.  Students can decrease their grade by displaying improper classroom conduct which may include—but is not limited to—the following:
            – Arriving to class late without notifying the professor beforehand.
            – Leaving class early without notifying the professor beforehand.
            – Having an electronic device (cell phone, etc.) go off during class.
            – Using electronic devices (cell phones, computers, etc.) in improper ways (texting, web     surfing, etc.) during class.
            – Disrupting the class by talking (SEE BELOW).
            – Exhibiting disrespectful behavior towards either the professor or another student.
 
Policy on Talking and Other Disruptive Classroom Behavior:
If a student exhibiting disruptive behavior causes me to interrupt a lecture to demand that they stop talking, etc., the following steps will be taken:
First Interruption during the Semester: Student receives a warning.
Second Disruption during the Semester and all Subsequent Disruptions: Student will lose one participation point out of 10.
Third Disruption during the Semester: Student will be permanently moved to a seat in the front of the class and away from other students if space allows.
Fourth Disruption during the Semester: Student will be reported to the administration office.
 
In-Class Assignments;
During the course of the semester, 12 or so in-class assignments (consisting of either group discussions or unannounced quizzes or homework assignments) will be given.  No more than one such assignment will be given during any particular week.  Of these 13 or so assignments only the highest 10 or so scores will be kept.  Make-up assignments will be given only for excused absences (e.g., a doctor’s note, etc.).  Three or so drops are allowed as protection if you have to miss class for some other reason.  Grades for the quizzes/homework will be based on your ability to clearly and accurately express the ideas that are put forth in the assigned reading(s) for the day on which a particular assignment is due.

Exams:
Four exams will be given during the course of the semester, none of which will be cumulative.  Exams will consist of true and false, multiple choice, and essay questions.  Make-up exams will be administered only to students with excused absences. Keep in mind that under no circumstances will students be allowed to take an exam in class if they arrive to class thirty minutes or later.

Paper:
One term paper will be assigned during the semester. If you are unable to turn a paper in on time, expect it to be docked three percentage points for each day turned in late-including weekends-unless:a) I am notified ahead of time about a problem; or b) there is an excused absence.
*Note: The terms for turning in late work are non-negotiable. Each student is expected to read this syllabus and follow it accordingly.
 
Attendance:
Students are expected to be on time since late arrivals are disruptive and inconsiderate to both the professor and fellow students. Leaving class early is equally disruptive. Students who need to leave early should notify the instructor at the beginning of class and sit where it will minimize disturbance. Likewise, all electronic devices barring those used for taking notes (e.g., cell phones, pagers, etc.) must be turned off during class.
*Attending class and keeping up with the readings are essential to passing this course.
 
Important Notes:
* If accommodations are needed for a disability, please notify me during the first week of class.
* Be aware that policies stated in this syllabus are subject to change.
 
Academic Honor Code:
 
Academic honesty is required in all academic endeavors. Violations of academic honesty include any instance of plagiarism, cheating, seeking credit for another’s work, falsifying documents or academic records, or any other fraudulent activity. Violations of academic honesty may result in a failing grade on the assignment, failure in the course, or expulsion from the College.  If a student is found guilty of violating the academic honesty policy on an in-class assignment, that student will receive a zero for his or her TOTAL in-class assignment grade.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism refers to the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and/or thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one’s own original work.[1] As mentioned in this syllabus, plagiarism is a violation of the University’s Academic Honor Code and will not be tolerated. In what follows, I offer a few examples of what would be construed as plagiarism:

– Attempting to pass off another student’s work as one’s own

– Including the statements of another author in one’s work without properly citing him or

her (as by quotes, etc.)

– This includes using any uncited passages from Internet sources.

*One easy way to avoid plagiarizing is to properly cite an author whenever one is making some reference to his or her ideas. It should be said that this course is constructed so that a student can excel without having to use sources other than the course text/lectures. This being said, if you choose to use outside sources, be sure to cite them appropriately. Citations should be made not only for direct quotes, but also where one has paraphrased (reworded) what another has said. This can be accomplished in several ways. For example, you might precede a sentence paraphrasing Plato with “According to Plato … ” and then citing the text and page number.

*A good rule of thumb is that if you are ever in doubt as to whether or not you are plagiarizing, make a citation. If you have any particular questions about plagiarism during the course of the semester, please come talk to me. Additional information on plagiarism is available in the Student Handbook.

---

[1] Taken from Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary

COURSE SCHEDULE
 
Week 1
1/27: Introduction
1/29: Kane – “The Contours of Contemporary Free Will Debates” (Read Article on Blackboard)
 
Week 2
* COMPATIBILISM
2/3: Nielsen – Read Article on Blackboard
2/5: Frankfurt – “Freedom of the Will and the Concept of a Person” (Read: 322-336)
 
Week 3
* INCOMPATIBILISM
2/10: Campbell – Read Article on Blackboard
2/12: NO CLASS
 
Week 4
2/17: NO CLASS
2/19: Frankfurt – “Alternative Possibilities and Moral Responsibility” (Read: 167-176)/Review
 
Week 5
2/24: Exam 1
2/26: Kane – “Two Kinds of Incompatibilism” (Read Article on Blackboard)
 
Week 6
* CHALLENGES TO FREE WILL (DIVINE FOREKNOWLEDGE)
3/2: Zagzebski – Read Article on Blackboard
3/4: Zagzebski, cont.
 
Week 7
* CHALLENGES TO FREE WILL (THEORETICAL SKEPTICISM)
3/9: Nagel – Read Article on Blackboard
3/11: Review
 
Week 8
3/16: Exam 2
3/18: Strawson – Read: 212-228
 
Week 9
* CHALLENGES TO FREE WILL (NEUROSCIENCE AND PSYCHOLOGY)
3/23: Wegner – Read Article on Blackboard
3/25: Wegner, cont. (Group Discussion) AND
* REVISIONISM
Vargas – Read Article on Blackboard
 
Week 10
* EXPERIMENTAL PHILOSOPHY APPROACHES TO THE FREE WILL DEBATE
3/30: Nahmias et al. – Read Article on Blackboard
4/1: Review
 
Week 11
4/6: Exam 3
 
SPRING BREAK: April 8^th-April 16^th (Have fun!!)
 
Week 12
4/20: Nichols and Knobe – Read Article on Blackboard
4/22: Nahmias and Murray – Read Article on Blackboard
 
Week 13
4/27: Movie (Minority Report)
4/29: Movie, cont. (Group Discussion)
 
Week 14                                         
* FREE WILL AND THE LAW
5/4: Green and Cohen – Read Article on Blackboard
5/6: Gazzaniga and Steven – Read Article on Blackboard
 
Week 15
5/11: Morris – Read Article on Blackboard
5/13: Review and Group Discussion
 
FINAL EXAM: Monday, May the 18^th from 12:20-2:15