20 PHIL 101B β Introduction to Philosophy
Value, Meaning, and Humanityβs Place in the Modern World
21 Course Information
| Section | 1 |
| Meeting Times | Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:30β11:45 AM |
| Room | Flagler Hall 213 |
| Dates | August 24 β December 2, 2026 |
| Credits | 3 |
Instructor: Dr. Monty Reynolds π§ mreynolds1@stetson.edu π’ Elizabeth Hall 104 Office Hours: Tuesdays 1:00β3:00 PM | Thursdays 1:00β3:00 PM Drop in, email, or book via Microsoft Bookings (link on Canvas).
22 Course Description
In this course we use David Chalmersβ book Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy to look at questions humans have been asking for thousands of years. While the primary focus of the book is one question in particular β βAre we in a simulation?β β we use that question to frame others:
- What does it mean to know that the sky is blue?
- Is murder really wrong?
- How did I come to know that murder is wrong?
- What is real?
- Can a virtual world be a real world?
We will not only look at contemporary issues about AI and simulation theory, but will also examine how philosophers of the past posed and attempted to answer these questions. In doing so we will explore epistemology (theory of knowledge), metaphysics (the nature of reality), philosophy of mind, and ethics.
A primary objective of this course is to teach students how to construct good arguments and how to assess the arguments of others.
23 Required Texts
- Chalmers, David J. Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy. Penguin Books, 2022. Amazon link
The course will also be supplemented with handouts distributed in class and posted to Canvas.
24 Course Expectations
- Come prepared to engage with assigned readings in class, referencing specific passages as prompted by the instructor.
- Bring physical or digital copies of readings to class for annotation and short reflections.
- Submit all assignments via Canvas by the due date.
- Active participation and regular attendance are essential for success.
- Check your Stetson email and Canvas accounts frequently β daily if possible. Technology issues are not accepted as excuses for late or missing work.
25 Grading
25.1 Assignment Breakdown
| Assignment | Points |
|---|---|
| Weekly Reflections (best 8 of 12, 8 pts each) | 32 pts |
| Reflective Analysis 1 & 2 (80 pts each) | 160 pts |
| Essay 1 & 2 (40 pts each) | 80 pts |
| DND Presentation / Participation | 96 pts |
| Attendance | 32 pts |
| Total | 400 pts |
25.2 Grading Scale
| Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 93β100% |
| A- | 90β92% |
| B+ | 87β89% |
| B | 83β86% |
| B- | 80β82% |
| C+ | 77β79% |
| C | 73β76% |
25.3 Attendance
Attendance is worth 32 points (5% of the final grade), calculated as follows:
| Unexcused Absences | Points |
|---|---|
| 0β1 | 32 pts |
| 2 | 24 pts |
| 3β4 | 16 pts |
| 5β6 | 8 pts |
| 6+ | 0 pts |
25.4 Assignment Rubric
All written assignments (Reflective Analyses and Essays) are graded on four dimensions. For each dimension:
- Excellent: Full points for that category
- Good: 3/4 of possible points
- Needs Improvement: 1/2 of possible points
- Unacceptable: 1/4 of possible points
25.4.1 Thesis
- Excellent: A single, clear statement of your main point.
- Good: Thesis is present and fairly obvious, but not in one sharp sentence.
- Needs Improvement: Thesis must be reconstructed from throughout the paper.
- Unacceptable: No real thesis at all.
25.4.2 Premises
- Excellent: Every reason is clearly stated; you distinguish basic premises from defended ones; sub-arguments are provided for controversial claims; basic premises are plausibly true.
- Good: Premises are mostly clear; sub-arguments appear for controversial points; basic premises are plausible.
- Needs Improvement: Premises are hard to identify; missing sub-arguments; basic premises may be questionable.
- Unacceptable: No real premises, or premises are very likely false.
25.4.3 Support
- Excellent: Premises clearly and strongly support the thesis; argument is logically valid or makes the conclusion very plausible.
- Good: Premises support the thesis reasonably well; argument is valid or makes the conclusion plausible.
- Needs Improvement: Premises only weakly support the thesis; argument is invalid and conclusion is not made plausible.
- Unacceptable: Premises do not support the thesis at all.
25.4.4 Student Response (Engagement with Objections)
- Excellent: You thoughtfully address both obvious and less-obvious objections, counterexamples, or opposing views, with original replies.
- Good: You address the most obvious objections with reasonable responses.
- Needs Improvement: You miss obvious objections, or responses are weak.
- Unacceptable: You ignore objections and opposing positions entirely.
Note: Oral appeals for grade changes are not accepted. If you believe you have an extremely strong case, you may submit a one-page written appeal within one week of the work being returned.
26 DND Adventures
This course uses D&D-style adventure sessions to encourage collaborative philosophical engagement. Students form groups of 5. Each group member takes one turn as Dungeon Master (DM), presenting the assigned reading as a philosophical quest or dungeon that the party must navigate.
Your DND participation grade depends on preparation and active engagement. Keep your adventure tracker sheets β submitting a complete scorecard earns full credit. Tracker sheets are available on the course Google Drive.
For full DND rules and the adventure sheet, see the DND Addendum on Canvas.
27 Academic Policies
27.1 Academic Integrity
All work you submit must be your own. Sign all submissions: βPledged, [your name].β Any contribution from others must be clearly acknowledged. Academic dishonesty β including plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, and misrepresentation β will be referred to the Academic Honor Council and may result in suspension or dismissal. Honor code: http://www.stetson.edu/honorsystem/
27.2 Late Work
All assignments must be submitted on time. Late work is docked a half-letter grade per day unless an extension is approved before the due date. Student athletes and others with school-related travel must submit work before departing.
27.3 Accommodations
If you anticipate barriers related to the format or requirements of this course, please meet with me early in the semester. If disability-related accommodations are necessary, register with the Academic Success Center:
- Phone: 386-822-7127
- Website: www.stetson.edu/asc
Free tutoring is also available through the ASC: www.stetson.edu/asc/tutoring/php
27.4 Writing Center
Located on the second floor of the library. Hours: Wednesdays 2β6 PM, Fridays 12β3 PM. One or two visits can make a significant difference in the quality of your written work.
27.5 Food Insecurity
The Hatters Helping Hatters Food Pantry is available to all Stetson students, staff, and faculty β free and no questions asked. Location: Carlton Union Building (CUB 278), open 24 hours.
27.6 Counseling Center
Phone: 386-822-8900 | Location: Griffith Hall Hours: Weekdays 8:00 AMβ4:30 PM After-hours emergencies: Public Safety 386-822-7300 (ask for the on-call counselor). Crisis line: 386-822-8740 β Option 1 for thoughts of harm; Option 9 for all other mental health needs. Medical emergencies: call 911.
27.7 Recording Policy
Any recordings of class (audio, video, or otherwise) may only be used for personal academic purposes and may not be shared without the professorβs written consent. Violation will be reported to the Office of Community Standards.
27.8 Course Schedule
27.9 Important Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Mon Aug 24 | First day of class |
| Mon Sep 7 | Labor Day β No Class |
| Wed Nov 11 | Veterans Day β No Class |
| Wed Nov 25 | Thanksgiving Break β No Class |
| Wed Dec 2 | Last day of class |
| Fri Oct 23 | Essay 1 due (Canvas) |
| Fri Nov 6 | Reflective Analysis 1 due (Canvas) |
| Dec 8β11 | Final Examinations |
Note: Values Day (Thu Nov 12) and Fall Break (ThuβFri Oct 8β9) do not affect this Monday/Wednesday section.
27.10 Reading Schedule
Weeklies due every Monday starting Sep 7. Schedule subject to change β check Canvas regularly.
| Week | Date(s) | Reading | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon Aug 24 | Introduction + Ch. 1 | First class |
| 2 | Mon Aug 31 | Ch. 2: Simulation Hypothesis | |
| 2 | Wed Sep 2 | Ch. 3: Do We Know Things? | |
| 3 | Wed Sep 9 | Ch. 4: External World | Labor Day week |
| 4 | Mon Sep 14 | Ch. 5: Likely in a Simulation? | 1st DND Adventure |
| 5 | Mon Sep 21 | Ch. 6: What Is Reality? | |
| 5 | Wed Sep 23 | Ch. 7: Is God a Hacker? | |
| 6 | Mon Sep 28 | Ch. 8: Universe of Information? | |
| 6 | Wed Sep 30 | Ch. 9: Its from Bits? | |
| 7 | Mon Oct 5 | Ch. 10: VR Headsets Create Reality? | |
| 7 | Wed Oct 7 | Ch. 11: VR Illusion Machines? | 2nd DND Adventure |
| 8 | Mon Oct 12 | Ch. 12: AR and Alternative Facts? | |
| 8 | Wed Oct 14 | Ch. 13: Deepfakes? | |
| 9 | Mon Oct 19 | Ch. 14: Mind and Body in VR? | |
| 9 | Wed Oct 21 | Ch. 15: Consciousness in Digital World? | Essay 1 due Fri Oct 23 |
| 10 | Mon Oct 26 | Ch. 16: AR Extends the Mind? | |
| 10 | Wed Oct 28 | Ch. 16 (continued) | 3rd DND Adventure |
| 11 | Mon Nov 2 | Ch. 17: Good Life in VR? | |
| 11 | Wed Nov 4 | Ch. 18: Simulated Lives Matter? | RA 1 due Fri Nov 6 |
| 12 | Mon Nov 9 | Ch. 19β20 (combined) | Veterans Day week |
| 13 | Mon Nov 16 | Ch. 21: Dust Clouds and Programs? | |
| 13 | Wed Nov 18 | Ch. 22: Mathematical Structure? | 4th DND Adventure |
| 14 | Mon Nov 23 | Ch. 23β24 (combined) | Thanksgiving week |
| 15 | Mon Nov 30 | Review Chs. 1β24 | 5th DND Adventure |
| 15 | Wed Dec 2 | Course synthesis | Last day |