For every class period in which a philosophy reading is due you are required to submit at least one question regarding at least one such reading. Note: If two philosophy readings are due, you need submit a question about one reading. If only fiction is due, then you are not required to submit a question.

Vague, general, or trivial questions are unacceptable, as are questions which can easily be answered by looking in a reference source such as a dictionary, a philosophical dictionary or a philosophical encyclopedia.

Examples of unacceptable questions [these are questions I might ask you and expect you to be able to answer]:

• What does 'supervenes' mean?
• What is Frankfurt saying in this article?
• What is Hanley's argument in Chapter 3?
• What's the point of the first paragraph of this article?
• What does Parfit mean by 'survival'?

Examples of acceptable questions:

• According to Lacey's A Dictionary of Philosophy, to say that P supervenes on Q is just to say that there can be no difference in P without a difference in Q. According to Davidson, mental phenomena supervenes on physical phenomena--but is this really true? What physical phenomena exactly does mental phenomena allegedly supervene on?
• Dennett seems to be using his notion of an intentional system to explain what consciousness is, but isn't it better to use his notion of intentional systems as part of a test for discovering whether something is conscious rather than an explanation for what consciousness is? ([Because ...] would be even better!)
• Frankfurt seems to argue that I act freely just so long as my actions are in accordance with my second order volitions, i.e. my will, but admits that I may have no control over what my will is--but if I have no control over what my will is, in what sense are the actions I perform in this circumstance free actions of mine?

Questions are due via email, ggoddu @ richmond . edu by 12 pm prior class. A set of questions, at least one of which is acceptable, will receive one point. A set of questions with no acceptable questions will receive no points. Late questions will not be accepted.

I fully understand that in some instances circumstances may be such that you are unable to do the reading for a particular class day. As a result, if you are unable to do the reading, you will be unable to provide me with an acceptable question. You have available three, and only three, 'passes' which you may use to avoid being penalized for not submitting a question. Passes are used by sending me an email to the following effect by the normal deadline, i.e. 10 am prior to class:

Prof. Goddu,

I regret that I have been unable to do the reading required for today's class and request that I be exempted from submitting a question for today. I understand that I am responsible for reading and understanding this material as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Your name