21 PHIL 101B β Introduction to Philosophy
Value, Meaning, and Humanityβs Place in the Modern World
22 Course Information
| Section | 2 |
| Meeting Times | Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00β11:15 AM |
| Room | Flagler Hall 213 |
| Dates | August 20 β December 3, 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).
23 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.
24 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.
25 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.
26 Grading
26.1 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 |
26.2 Grading Scale
| Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 93β100% |
| A- | 90β92% |
| B+ | 87β89% |
| B | 83β86% |
| B- | 80β82% |
| C+ | 77β79% |
| C | 73β76% |
26.3 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 |
26.4 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
26.4.1 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.
26.4.2 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.
26.4.3 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.
26.4.4 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.
27 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.
28 Academic Policies
28.1 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/
28.2 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.
28.3 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
28.4 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.
28.5 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.
28.6 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.
28.7 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.
28.8 Course Schedule
28.9 Important Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Thu Aug 20 | First day of class |
| Thu Oct 8 | Fall Break β No Class |
| Thu Nov 12 | Values Day β No Class |
| Thu Nov 26 | Thanksgiving Break β No Class |
| Thu Dec 3 | Last day of class |
| Tue Oct 20 | Essay 1 due (Canvas) |
| Tue Nov 3 | Reflective Analysis 1 due (Canvas) |
| Dec 8β11 | Final Examinations |
Note: Labor Day (Mon Sep 7) and Veterans Day (Wed Nov 11) do not affect this Tuesday/Thursday section.
28.10 Reading Schedule
Weeklies due every Tuesday starting Sep 1. Schedule subject to change β check Canvas regularly.
| Week | Date(s) | Reading | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thu Aug 20 | Introduction | First class (Thu only) |
| 2 | Tue Aug 25 | Ch. 1: Is This the Real Life? | |
| 2 | Thu Aug 27 | Ch. 2: Simulation Hypothesis | |
| 3 | Tue Sep 1 | Ch. 3: Do We Know Things? | |
| 3 | Thu Sep 3 | Ch. 4: External World | |
| 4 | Tue Sep 8 | Ch. 5: Likely in a Simulation? | 1st DND Adventure |
| 4 | Thu Sep 10 | Debrief | |
| 5 | Tue Sep 15 | Ch. 6: What Is Reality? | |
| 5 | Thu Sep 17 | Ch. 7: Is God a Hacker? | |
| 6 | Tue Sep 22 | Ch. 8: Universe of Information? | |
| 6 | Thu Sep 24 | Ch. 9: Its from Bits? | |
| 7 | Tue Sep 29 | Ch. 10: VR Headsets Create Reality? | |
| 7 | Thu Oct 1 | Ch. 11: VR Illusion Machines? | |
| 8 | Tue Oct 6 | Ch. 12β13 (combined) | Fall Break Thu; 2nd DND Adventure |
| 9 | Tue Oct 13 | Ch. 14: Mind and Body in VR? | |
| 9 | Thu Oct 15 | Ch. 15: Consciousness in Digital World? | Essay 1 due Tue Oct 20 |
| 10 | Tue Oct 20 | Ch. 16: AR Extends the Mind? | |
| 10 | Thu Oct 22 | Ch. 16 (continued) | 3rd DND Adventure |
| 11 | Tue Oct 27 | Ch. 17: Good Life in VR? | |
| 11 | Thu Oct 29 | Ch. 18: Simulated Lives Matter? | RA 1 due Tue Nov 3 |
| 12 | Tue Nov 3 | Ch. 19: Virtual Society? | |
| 12 | Thu Nov 5 | Ch. 20: Words in Virtual Worlds? | |
| 13 | Tue Nov 10 | Ch. 21β22 (combined) | Values Day Thu; 4th DND Adventure |
| 14 | Tue Nov 17 | Ch. 23: Virtual Eden? | |
| 14 | Thu Nov 19 | Ch. 24: Boltzmann Brains? | |
| 15 | Tue Nov 24 | Review Chs. 1β24 | Thanksgiving Thu; 5th DND Adventure |
| 16 | Tue Dec 1 | Course synthesis | |
| 16 | Thu Dec 3 | Final review | Last day |