We watched the time travel movie Twelve Monkeys , and briefly discussed a number of issues concerning time travel and fatalism. The group assignment is to find a worthwhile philosophy article that deals with some of these issues in a general way. (I do not want articles that focus on the movie.) You've thought a bit about these issues as a result of seeing the movie. Are there interesting articles out there that explore some of these issues in more detail?

Your group's job is to find one article on time travel or fatalism.

I'd like you to start thinking about a topic for your final paper. Your paper can be on any philosophical topic we have discussed or read about. Think of this final paper as three (or so) connected shorter papers, like the ones you've written for our assignments.

The specifics of this assignment will depend on the topic you choose.

For this assignment, you will be providing critical feedback on someone else's paper. A word of warning: I don't think this is an easy assignment! Writing good feedback is time consuming.

• Comment on any one of the papers at right. (Try to comment on an unfamiliar paper — and certainly don't comment on your own!)
• You may write on a hard copy of the paper, use Microsoft Word's comment feature, or devise some other method. I ask only that your comments be legible.
• Don't forget to put your name somewhere on the paper.
• Please indicate whether you have read Descartes's reply to the circularity objection.

In roughly three pages , present and critically discuss Descartes's version of the ontological argument.

If you only clearly present Descartes's argument and one of the objections we reviewed in class, that is good, but the best you can receive is an A–. To get an A, you'll want to advance the debate past what we discussed in class. See full text for details.

What you do for this assignment depends on how you did on the previous assignment.

1. If you received a B– or lower on the previous assignment, I would like you to rewrite that paper.
2. If you received a B or B+, you have the option of rewriting or writing on the Cartesian circle.
3. If you received an A– or better, you should write on Cartesian circle.

We are now one month into the semester, and I'd like to get your feedback on how the class is going.

Please download the evaluation, fill it out, and bring a printed copy to class on Tuesday.

Austin defends the following principle: we need rule out only those alternatives to a knowledge claim that we have some “special reason” to consider. Stroud rejects Austin 's principle. In roughly three pages :

1. Describe Austin 's principle, and how it can be used to counter the skeptical argument.
2. Critically discuss this principle in light of Austin 's and Stroud's articles.

In the chapter we read, Stroud offers a (lengthy) point-by-point refutation of Austin . On pages 53–72, Stroud discusses (at length) one part of Austin 's position. In roughly two pages :

1. Describe the part of Austin 's position that Stroud criticizes.
2. Explain Stroud's criticism.

Austin is attempting to rebut the skeptical argument. In roughly two pages :

1. Lay out the skeptical argument that Austin is challenging.
2. Explain why he thinks this argument is unsound.

With regard to the second task: be as specific as you can. Does Austin think that one premise of the skeptic's argument is false? If so, which one, and why? Does he think that the conclusion does not follow from the premises? If so, why?

As we discussed on the first day, Descartes is looking for reasons to doubt or ground to doubt various classes of propositions. In the fifth paragraph of Meditation I Descartes mentions dreaming. (In our translation, this paragraph begins, “A brilliant piece of reasoning!”) In a one to two page essay , explain:

1. What propositions Descartes intends dreaming to call into doubt.
2. How dreaming is supposed to provide a reason to doubt these propositions.

With regard to the second task: be as specific as you can. What feature or features of dreams give grounds for doubting the propositions described in (1)? How, precisely, are these features supposed to do this? It is not a trivial task — people have devoted chapters and even books to this issue!