> Since likely we're all pretty lazy this might be a joke but..
>
> Any takers?
>
Just take the table of contents out of any good introduction to
philosophy, many available at the local public library, and make it
into a web page. For instance;
PHILOSOPHY: THE BASICS
Nigel Warburton
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415146941/
Table Of Contents
Introduction
Philosophy and its history
Why study philosophy?
Is philosophy difficult?
The limits of what philosophy can do
Chapter 1 - God
The Design Argument
Criticisms of the Design Argument
- Weakness of analogy
- Evolution
- Limitations on conclusion
The First Cause Argument
Criticisms of the First Cause Argument
- Self-contradictory
- Not a proof
- Limitations on conclusion
The Ontological Argument
Criticisms of the Ontological Argument
- Absurd consequences
- Existence is not a property
- Evil
Knowledge, proof, and the existence of God
The Problem of Evil
Attempted solutions to the Problem of Evil
- Saintliness
- Artistic analogy
The Free Will Defence
Criticisms of the Free Will Defence
- It makes two basic assumptions
- Free will but no evil
- God could intervene
- Doesn't explain natural evil
- Beneficial laws of nature
The argument from miracles
Hume on miracles
- Miracles always improbable
- Psychological factors
- Religions cancel out
The Gambler's Argument: Pascal's Wager
Criticisms of the Gambler's Argument
- Can't decide to believe
- Inappropriate argument
- Assumes reasonable odds
Faith
- The Dangers of Faith
Chapter 2 - Right & Wrong
Duty-based theories
Christian ethics
Criticisms of Christian ethics
- What is God's will?
- It assumes God's existence
Kantian ethics
- Motives
- Maxims
- Universalizability
- The Categorical Imperative
- Means and ends
Criticisms of Kantian ethics
- It is empty
- Universalizable immoral acts
- Implausible aspects
Consequentialism
Utilitarianism
Criticisms of utilitarianism
- Difficulties of calculation
- Problem cases
Negative utilitarianism
Rule utilitarianism
Applied ethics
Euthanasia
Ethics and meta-ethics
Naturalism
Criticisms of naturalism
- Fact/value distinction
- The Open Question Argument
- No human nature
Criticisms of anti-naturalism
- Promising
Emotivism
Criticisms of emotivism
- Moral argument impossible
- Dangerous consequences
Chapter 3 - The External World
Commonsense realism
Scepticism about the evidence of the senses
The Illusion Argument
Criticisms of the Illusion Argument
- Degrees of certainty
Could I be dreaming?
- Can't always be dreaming
- Dreams are different
- Can't ask 'Am I dreaming?'
Hallucination
- Brain in a jar?
Memory and logic
I think therefore I am
Criticism of the Cogito
Representative realism
- Primary and secondary qualities
Criticisms of representative realism
- The real world is unknowable
- Primary qualities also subject to illusion
Idealism
Criticisms of idealism
- Hallucinations and dreams
- Leads to solipsism
- Simplest explanation
Phenomenalism
Criticisms of phenomenalism
- Difficulties of describing objects
- Solipsism & the Private Language Argument
Causal realism
Criticisms of causal realism
- Experience of seeing
- Assumes real world
Chapter 4 - Science
The simple view of scientific method
Criticisms of the simple view
- Observation
- Observation statements
- Selection
The Problem of Induction
- Another aspect of the Problem of Induction
Attempted solutions to the Problem of Induction
- It seems to work
- Evolution
- Probability
Falsificationism: conjecture and refutation
- Falsifiability
Criticisms of falsificationism
- Role of confirmation
- Real theories are interrelated
- Historically inaccurate
Chapter 5 - Mind
Philosophy of mind and psychology
The Mind/Body Problem
Dualism
Criticisms of dualism
- Cannot be scientifically investigated
- Evolution
- Interaction
- It contradicts a basic scientific principle
Dualism without interaction
- Mind/body parallelism
- Occasionalism
- Epiphenomenalism
Physicalism
Type-identity theory
Criticisms of type-identity theory
- No knowledge of brain processes
- Properties of thoughts & of brain states
- All thoughts are about something
- Qualia: what it is like
- Individual differences
Token-identity theory
Criticisms of token-identity theory
- Same brain states could be different thoughts
Behaviourism
Criticisms of behaviourism
- Pretending
- Qualia
- How do I learn about my own beliefs?
- Pain of the paralysed
- Beliefs can cause behaviour
Functionalism
Criticism offunctionalism
- Qualia: computers & people
Other Minds
- Not a problem for behaviourism
The argument from analogy
Criticisms of the argument from analogy
- Not a proof
- Unverifiable
Chapter 6 - Art
Can art be defined?
The family resemblance view
Criticisms of the family resemblance view
The significant form theory
Criticisms of the significant form theory
- Circularity
- Irrefutability
The idealist theory
Criticisms of the idealist theory
- Strangeness
- Too narrow
The institutional theory
Criticisms of the institutional theory
- Doesn't distinguish good from bad art
- Circularity
- What criteria do the art world use?
Art criticism
Anti-intentionalism
Criticisms of anti-intentionalism
- Mistaken view of intention
- Irony
- Too narrow a view of art criticism
Performance, interpretation, authenticity
Historical authenticity in performance
Criticisms of historical authenticity in performance
- Time travel fantasy
- Simplistic view of musical interpretation
- Historical interpretations can miss the spirit
Forgeries and artistic value
- Price, snobbery, relics
- Perfect fakes
- Works of art versus artists
- The moral argument
