Course:	Philosophy 380-03: Metaphysics in Science Fiction
Time:	Spring 2005, TR, 11:15-12:30.
Location:	North Court 101
Instructor:	Geoff Goddu x8733 or 330-2904 (absolutely no later than 10 pm!).
Office Hours:	TR: 9:30-11:00; 12:30-1:30; W: 9:30-10:15; and by appt. North Court 215.
Texts:	Richard Hanley, Is Data Human? The Metaphysics of Star Trek (IDH)

Description: This course is a selective survey of current metaphysics via numerous contemporary works of philosophy and science fiction. Questions to be addressed may include--What is a person? Are you the same person as the person you were yesterday? Can you exist in two, or more place at once? What is an object? What is causation? What is time? Do objects endure through time? Is time travel possible? Could you prevent yourself from ever existing?

Requirements:	Questions	5%
	5 Short Papers	35%
	Term Paper:	30%
	Final Exam:	30%

Honor Code: Satisfaction of all the requirements must be by your own individual and independent work. All your work must be pledged.

Attendance: Every unexcused absence will result in a deduction of 1% from the total grade achieved satisfying the class requirements. You are responsible for all assigned material.

Provisional Schedule: [All readings and assignments are due at the beginning of class!]

Day	Date	Topic	Readings and Assignments Due
1	T 1/11	Introduction
		I. Time Travel
2	R 1/13	Metaphysics and Time Travel	/ Filer
3	T 1/18	Is Time Travel Possible?	Sukys, Horwich 111-119
4	R 1/20	Is Time Travel Possible?	SP #1 / Porges
5	T 1/25	Causation	Mackie
6	R 1/27	Backwards Causation	Dummett and Flew / Aldiss
7	T 2/1	Causal Loops	IDH 198-234 / Heinlein
8	R 2/3	Coincidences	Gorowich, SP #2
9	T 2/8	Coincidences	Horwich / Leiber, Brown
10	R 2/10	Freedom	Lewis / Binder
11	T 2/15	Freedom	Vihvelin / Silverberg
12	R 2/17	Changing the Past	Meiland / Bester
13	T 2/22	Changing the Past	Vranas/ Brown
14	R 2/24	Changing the Past	Goddu / Busby, SP #3
15	T 3/1	Identity	IDH 210-218, Ehring / Hudec
		II. Personal Identity
16	R 3/3	Persistence	Chisholm
	Spring Break
17	T 3/15	Persistence	Thomson
18	R 3/17	Body Switching	Williams / Dick; Staying Alive
19	T 3/22	Psychological Continuity	Nozick, SP #4,
20	R 3/24	Teletransportation	IDH 121-162 / Swanwick
21	T 3/29	Teletransportation	IDH 121-162 / Kelly
22	R 3/31	Identity vs. Survival	Parfit
23	T 4/5	Identity vs. Survival	Lewis, SP #5
24	R 4/7	Identity vs. Survival	Sider
25	T 4/12	Fission Rejuvination	Martin
26	R 4/14	Fission--Fusion	IDH 164-184
27	T 4/19	Fission--Fusion	IDH 164-184
28	R 4/21	Unity of Consciousness	Nagel, IDH, pp. 184-195, Term Paper