New postings: final paper and revised schedule of assignments
(Posted November 15, 2009)
The
final paper assignment
was emailed to the class on Friday, November 13. It has
also been posted at
http://www.csun.edu/~hcphi003/PHIL355/finalpaper.pdf
The issues there combine the earlier stand-alone list and the questions in the reading guide on Lewis.
The
updated schedule of assignments
and
printer-friendly schedule show the changes in our reading schedule announced
in class on Thursday, and the due dates for all stages of the final paper.
Schedule updated as announced in class October 22
(Posted October 26, 2009)
The
schedule, revised as of
October 22, remains at the same URL as before. The
printer-friendly schedule has also been updated.
The update reflects changes previously announced in class:
- Deletion of the selection by Armstrong on properties
- A session spent working on drafts of the midterm paper, not previously in the schedule
- More days spent discussing possible worlds than originally scheduled
- Shift of causation articles until after our discussion of persistence and personal
over time
With this shift, the selection on endurance versus perdurance by Heller will come directly after
Lewis' discussion of this debate in the context of possible worlds.
Due date for midterm paper extended further to October 29
(Posted October 26, 2009)
As announced in class on October 22, the due date for the midterm paper is extended to October 29,
not just October 27.
Due date for midterm paper extended to October 27
(Posted October 21, 2009)
As announced in the last 2 class meetings, the due date for the midterm paper has been changed
to Tuesday, October 27. (The original due date listed in the assignment was October 22.) I
encourage you to use the extra time to improve your paper. Take advantage of the comments that I
sent to those of you who turned in your drafts on time.
Schedule updated to show furlough days
(Posted August 28, 2009)
The
schedule, revised as of
August 28, remains at the same URL as before. The
printer-friendly schedule has also been updated.
As the semester goes on, additional changes may be made as warranted by the length our discussions.
As you know, California's economic crisis is having an impact on the CSU system. You are absorbing
part of the impact by paying higher tuition. Employees are also helping to absorb the impact.
Many employees have voted for a furlough plan, which reduces pay between 9% and 10%, with a
corresponding reduction in workload. This semester the whole campus will be closed on designated
days. Faculty members are required to personally select nine furlough days for the semester, and
certify that we will not work on those days.
In accordance with these requirements, I proposed a mix of days when this class normally meets and
days when it does not as my furlough days. Furlough days when we normally meet will result on
cancellation of a few class meetings over the course of the semester, and a corresponding decrease
in course content. Cancellations will be evident from your schedule of assignments, where furlough
days will be specified once they have been approved. Furlough days when the class does not normally
meet may affect your class in a variety of less obvious ways, including delays in grading your
tests, reduced availability for appointments, and fewer or less detailed handouts.
For the effects of furloughs on enrollment policies, see
below.
VENT at the TENT: You are invited
(Posted August 22, 2009)
Students are being asked to pay more and to receive less, with fewer classes available and a
diminished experience in those that are offered.
VENT at the TENT will provide a chance to GET OUT THE WORD about the how budget cuts are affecting
you.
- Monday, August 24 through Thursday, August 27 from 10am-2pm a tent, sponsored by the
Northridge Chapter of the California Faculty Association (CFA), will be located in front of the
Oviatt Library. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to speak on camera about how they
are being affected by the budget cuts. A DVD compilation of their stories will be sent to the
Chancellor, legislators, and the Governor. Press coverage is expected as well.
- KTLA Morning News will telecast live this Monday at 6AM, 7AM, 8AM, and 9AM in front of the
Oviatt Library prior to "Vent at the Tent". They want to talk to students! If you can't get the
classes you need or are having other troubles due to the CSU budget crisis this is an opportunity
to let the public know how real people like you are being affected by the budget cuts.
As you are probably aware, the budget crisis is making it more difficult for students to
register for classes they need. As a result, some enrollment policies will be enforced
more rigidly than in past semesters. Please note in particular:
- Students who miss the first two meetings of a class
(one meeting for classes that meet only
once a week) may be denied a right to take the class. Such students will be asked to drop the
class through SOLAR. A student who does not do so will receive a WU.
- Students attempting to repeat the course
Permission numbers may be given for repeating the course only if seats remain after all eligible
students attempting to enroll for the first time have been given permission numbers.
Any student who wishes to enroll in a course for a third time (initial enrollment plus two repeats)
or more must get permission from the associate dean of the college of that student's major, or from
the Director of Undergraduate Studies if the student is Undecided. If a student enrolls without
such permission, that student may be administratively withdrawn from the class. The Associate
Dean of the College of Humanities, within which the Department of Philosophy is housed, has
announced her intention to implement this enrollment management tool for students in this College.
For details on the relevant policies, see
http://www.csun.edu/senate/policies/undergrad_repeating_courses.pdf
Schedule modifications anticipated due to furlough program
(Posted
August 20, 2009)
You can expect some changes in the schedule of assignments to result from the employee furlough
program. It is unlikely that there will be any changes before the middle of October.
However, that is not guaranteed. Watch for announcements in class and on this web page.