PHI 2010H, Honors Introduction to Philosophy

BHC 127, Tue & Thur 4:30-5:45

 

Office Hours: Tue 3:00-4:00 p.m.; Thur 3:00-4:00 p.m. and by appointment.

Dr. Nancy Stanlick

CNH 411-I (Until mid-Feb), then the new Psychology Building (#240)  behind CL1

407-823-2273

stanlick@mail.ucf.edu

LAST UPDATED ON MARCH 27, 2007

 

Course Description and Objectives:

            Honors Introduction to Philosophy includes inquiry into the meaning and justification of fundamental ideas and beliefs concerning reality, knowledge, and values and application to relevant topics in ethics, religion, and politics.  This section of PHI 2010 is a problem-oriented, historically organized introduction to philosophy dealing with issues such as the existence of God, the problem of evil, the distinction between appearance and reality, the nature of truth, free will and determinism, ethics, and political theory.  Remember that philosophy is not simply about listing and remembering facts.  It is about analyzing positions and arguments, understanding them in their historical and cultural contexts, and being able to deal with, discuss, and compare diverse ideas, theories and principles.

            In this course, you will become familiar with the history of philosophy and some of its main problems, and you will be able to write about and discuss critically its development and specific points of emphasis.  You will be able to analyze meanings in philosophical texts from diverse cultural and historical contexts and sharpen skills in research and critical/analytical reading and writing by demonstrating knowledge of and critical thinking about philosophical concepts and the theoretical and critical principles of philosophical thinking from diverse contexts. 

            Because this course is an advanced introduction to philosophy, you will engage in philosophical discussion and do philosophy by close reading of texts and demonstrating careful analysis of arguments, theories and principles in various aspects of philosophical inquiry.

            Objectives:  The objectives of the course are at least the following. First, you will become familiar with the history of Western philosophy and conversant about several different philosophical traditions and “fields” of philosophy.  You will be able to write about and discuss critically its development and specific points of emphasis.  Second, you will develop and sharpen skills in research and critical/analytical reading and writing, especially in a forum provided by the scope and organization of this course in which verbal and written discussion and presentation of ideas will take place.

Information fluency is a prominent aspect of this course.  IF is defined as the ability to acquire, evaluate, and use information in appropriate ways.  Your research and some assignments in this course are IF-related.

 

Texts:

 

  • Steven M. Cahn and Maureen Eckert, Philosophical Horizons (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2006).  Abbreviated as “PH” throughout.
  • Lewis Vaughn, Writing Philosophy (New York: Oxford UP, 2006).
  • Online and works on reserve as appropriate

 

Grading, Assignments, and Related Information

 

The grading scale is:

A, 90-100, superior course performance; far exceeds average, basic expectations

B, 80-89, excellent course performance; exceeds average, basic expectations

C, 70-79, good course performance; meets average, basic expectations

D, 60-69, below average course performance; meets some or many basic expectations

F, 0-59, far below average; fails to meet all or most basic expectations

 

Late papers, examinations, or other course-related assignments will be accepted ONLY with appropriate documentation regarding legitimate reasons for missing the deadlines.  In all acceptable cases, late graded course work must be completed within 2 class meeting days of its initial administration.

 

I will assume that you will adhere to the academic creed of UCF and will maintain the highest standards of academic integrity.  I will also do this, so please do not ask me to change (or expect me to change) your grade illegitimately or to break or bend rules for one person that are inappropriate or that would not apply to everyone.  It is not possible to offer any course credit to anyone that is not available to everyone.  Changes of grade are made only for legitimate reasons (e.g., clerical errors) after the semester has ended.  Incomplete grades are assigned only for appropriate reasons.  All written work in this course is subject to submission to turnitin.com. Grades are earned, not given. Plagiarism and Cheating of any kind on an examination, quiz, or assignment will result at least in an "F" for that assignment (and may, depending on the severity of the case, lead to an "F" for the entire course) and may be subject to appropriate referral to the Office of Student Conduct for further action. See the UCF Golden Rule for further information.  Assignments or any graded element of the course must also be your own work. There is nothing wrong with seeking the assistance of others (in fact, helping each other to study for examinations is highly recommended) for help in understanding concepts, principles, or methods of analysis, but simply obtaining answers from another person and turning them in as your own is certainly unacceptable.

 

Because this is a small class, your regular presence during meetings is a necessity.  Using e-community is recommended.  I have set it up so that when you log in, you can see the e-mail addresses of other people in this class.  It will be useful when or if you need to send or refer to files for presentations or any sort of collaborative work that may be required.

 

Assignments (see the schedule for due dates):

 

Information Fluency Pre-Test = 3% (30 pts)

  • Due/given in class on 1/16/07 – no prep is necessary.  Do the best you can.
  • Remember to take the GEP course Pre-Test at the Assessment site on WebCT.  Go to http://webct.ucf.edu and sign in.  You’ll see a link for PHI 2010. The WebCT site doesn't work for this course, so this requirement is no longer a requirement.

Essays (4) – 15% (or 150 points).

  • Some or all may or will be peer reviewed
  • Due at spaced intervals through the term.  See the schedule below for topics and due dates.
  • Each essay should be 3-6 pages in length (or 750-1500 words).  See the paper/essay formatting requirements below.

Exams (2) – 60% or 600 pts.  25% midterm; 35% final.  See schedule.  The format of each test will be announced and determined at least one week prior to their administration.

Presentations and Related Documents – 10%.

  • Presentation:  One per person.  See schedule below = 7% (70 pts)
    • Includes one review of a presentation.  See schedule = 3% (30 pts)
  • Note:  Presentations are the same as paper topics.  Each person writes all four of the essays (only essays 2-4 are topics of presentations), and each person does a presentation on one of those three papers.  Your presentation evaluation will not be scheduled on the same day as your own presentation.

IF Assignments (2) = 9% (90 pts).  Go to Google Docs & Spreadsheets at http://www.google.com and sign in to gain access to the collaborative document. Instructions for the assignment are there. There are two due dates. The first is April 5 (for your entry) and the second is April 19 (for your edits/commentary on another person's entry) .

Information Fluency Post-Test = 3% (30 pts) – combined with final exam

 

Your grades will be posted in myGrades at my.ucf.edu.

 

Late papers, examinations, or other course-related assignments will be accepted ONLY with appropriate documentation and regarding legitimate reasons for missing the deadlines.  In this course, it is up to you to keep track of yourself. If you do not intend to keep up with the readings and assignments on a regular basis, you may wish to re-think taking this course. You do not get "credit" for simply being in class. Attending regularly and doing what is required, one would think, is a given. YOU are responsible for meeting all the course requirements, being present for examinations and assignments, and submitting all required coursework on time. Graded assignments for the course can be made up only with good, legitimate, and verifiable reasons. There is no extra credit available in this course.

 

  • Important Notes regarding assignments:
    • All assignments are to be submitted by e-mail ( stanlick@mail.ucf.edu) to me by the due date no later than the beginning of the class meeting on the date the assignment is due.  Due dates and specific details regarding assignments will be announced in class and/or listed in the online syllabus.
    • Use the book by Lewis Vaughn in addition to the sites listed below.
    • Grammar, spelling, punctuation, style, and format ALL count in determining your grade on written and presented assignments.
    • Generally speaking, your grade on each written assignment is based on the following:
      • Content:  35%
      • Critical Analysis:  35%
      • Technical (grammar, spelling, punctuation, format, style): 30%
    • Make sure that you follow the format for papers and assignments:
      • Proofread what you write and correct and eliminate errors.
      • Number the pages consecutively.
      • Provide a clear thesis statement at or near the beginning of the paper.
      • Write with conviction when stating your own position.  Write with care.  Use references when you need to do so, and do not intentionally or accidentally plagiarize since they are equally serious in either case.
      • Use 1.5” margins on both sides and the top/bottom of the pages.
      • Use 1.5 spacing between lines
      • Use a font size and style that is legible.  Use 11-14 point font.
      • When your paper requires references, use the style indicated in the assignment or, if no specific style is listed, choose MLA, Chicago, or APA, whichever you prefer.  But be consistent.  That is, don’t mix them in the same paper.
      • Use footnotes sparingly.  But when they are needed, don’t forget to include them.  Number them consecutively.
      • Artwork on title pages is a waste of time and space.  In fact, you don’t even need a title page.  Just put your name and the date somewhere on the top of the paper.
      • For whatever you write, make sure it has a title. 
      • Save the file that you send to me in .doc format ONLY.  In a case in which a paper is to be submitted in hard copy form, please staple the pages together so they don’t get lost.
      • Two good sources of information on writing a paper in philosophy may be found at the following links:

·        http://ethics.sandiego.edu/lmh/E3/Appendix/Appendix.asp

·        http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/philosophy.html

 

Course Content Schedule:  The schedule of readings and assignments appears below.  Changes/alternations in the schedule of topics, examination dates, paper due dates, other assignments, and other schedule-related information may be made from time to time to facilitate completion of all major sections listed.  Additional readings/links and updates may appear at any time in relevant sections of the schedule. 

 

1.  Philosophical Arguments, Weeks 1 – 2 (Jan 9, 11, and 16)

Readings:

  • Writing Philosophy:  Chapter on Reading Philosophy
    • This text will be used at various times throughout the course.

Lecture Topics:

  • What is Philosophy?
  • Constructing and Evaluating Arguments
  • General background on fields, traditions, and methods of philosophy

Assignments:

  • Take the IF Pre-Test in class on 1/16.  No preparation is required.  Do the best you can.
  • Take the pre-test at the GEP assessment site at http://webct.ucf.edu .  Sign in and go to the GEP assessment link.  It is open until Tuesday January 16 at 11:55 p.m..
  • Essay 1.  Due on January 25 – Creating an original philosophical argument.  Details in class and here.  30 pts.
    1. On January 18, 19, and 20, there is a conference on campus called “Heresy, Blasphemy, and Freedom of Expression.”  There are approximately 22 presentations at this conference, all of which are related to philosophical issues in ethics, critical thinking, philosophy of religion, and others.  This is your first essay, and the topic is this:  Go to one or more presentations at the conference and write an essay on one of them that interests you, summarizing the position of the presenter or speaker and providing your own critical argument regarding that position.  Remember that a critical appraisal need not be negative.  You may agree with the speaker – or not.  The idea is to be able both to explain the position of the presenter and to deal critically with the issue(s), whether doing so includes agreement with the speaker or disagreement with the speaker.  Use the information provided in the links above regarding constructing arguments, critically evaluating arguments, etc., and the relevant sections of Vaughn’s Writing Philosophy.  See the essay requirements, above, in the syllabus.  This essay is due on January 25.

 

2.  Issues and Topics in Ancient to Early Modern Philosophy, Jan 23-Feb 22

Readings:

  • Plato
    • Euthyphro (22), Apology (373), Crito (388)
    • Republic, The Divided Line (98)
  • Aristotle
    • Substance, Cause and Change (102)
    • Nicomachean Ethics (302)
  • Epicurus
    • Epicurus, “The Pleasant Life,” (308)
  • Anselm
    • The Ontological Argument for God’s Existence (31)
  • Aquinas
    • The Five Ways (to prove God’s existence) (34)
  • Related Concepts:
    • The Problem of Evil
      • Swinburne, Why God Allows Evil (58)
      • Cahn, The Moriarty Hypothesis (65)
    • The Justification of Religious Belief
      • Pascal, The Wager (66)
      • William James, The Will to Believe (72)
  • Descartes
    • Meditations (162)
    • Gilbert Ryle, Descartes’ Myth (227)
    • Churchland and Churchland, Could a Machine Think? (258)

Lecture Topics:

  • Plato’s theory of the forms, philosophical argumentation, the nature of reality
  • Aristotle’s disagreement with Plato
  • Aristotle’s ethical theory, and Epicurean ethics
  • Arguments for God’s existence, the problem of evil, and the justification of religious belief
  • The beginning of Modern Philosophy – Descartes, reality, God, and knowledge – a revolutionary way to think

Assignments:

 

3.  Issues and Topics in Early Modern to Late Modern and Contemporary Philosophy (March 1-April 23)

Readings:

  • Hobbes
    • Leviathan (394)
  • Locke
    • Second Treatise of Government (398)
    • Of Identity and Diversity (109)
    • Essay Concerning Human Understanding (195)
  • Berkeley
    • Principles of Human Knowledge (200)
  • Hume
    • Personal Identity (116)
    • Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (206)
  • Free Will & Determinism
    • A.J. Ayer, Freedom & Necessity (131)
    • Taylor, Freedom & Determinism (136)
    • Darrow, Compulsion (148)
    • Alternate Possibilities & Moral Responsibility (153)
  • Kant
    • Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals (316)
  • Marx
    • Estranged Labor (406)
  • Mill
    • Utilitarianism (321)
    • On Liberty (408)
  • Nietzsche
    • Beyond Good and Evil (332)
  • Rawls & Nozick
    • A Theory of Justice (413)
    • Anarchy, State and Utopia (420)

Lecture Topics:

  • Social Contract Theory, Egoism and early Modern Political Theory
  • Personal Identity and the Nature of Knowledge
  • Materialism, Immaterialism, & Skepticism
  • Free Will and Determinism
  • Ethical and Political Theories

Assignments:

  • Essay 3 – due on April 10 .  40 pts.
  • Essay 4 – due on April 19 .  40 pts.
  • Presentations – see schedule
    • Presentation evaluations – see schedule
  • IF Assignment 2 -- Go to Google Docs and Spreadsheets. Both IF assignments are combined into one document. Part 1 is worth 60 points; Part 2 is worth 30.
  • Final Exam at published time during final exam week.

 

 

 

The presentation table will be completed by the beginning of the third week of classes.

 

Presentation & Paper Topic/Date

Presentation/Presenter and Review/Reviewer February 22nd: Pesentations and reviews of presentations on essay 2.

February 22nd, Essay 2. Choose one of these topics (listed below) on which to write your essay. Use YOUR own ideas. For this essay, combine what you know about the topic you choose with what YOU think about it. Recreate the argument of the topic, then create your own argument and position in response to it. If you use sources/references, then definitely cite them properly. See the link, above in the syllabus, to the University of North Carolina's writing center regarding types of philosophy papers and Vaughn's text, Writing Philosophy. Generally speaking, your paper will combine the first and any one of the other elements listed below:

  • Argument reconstruction
  • Objections and replies
  • Application
  • Original argument

 

Be sure to review the paper/essay requirements, above, in this syllabus.

  • Presentations are worth 7% of your grade.
  • If your name appears in this column, you are presenting your paper in class on 2/22.
  • Presentations should be no more than 6-8 minutes in length plus 2-4 minutes discussion/question time.
  • Use PowerPoint or Word, or some other kind of software (if you wish to do your presentation using technology) to create your presentation. There is a document camera in the room, so if you have prepared some kind of diagram, you can project it on the screen. If you want simply to do a lecture-style presentation, that is fine as well, but be sure to illustrate some aspect(s) of your presentation using the white board, the computer, or the document camera.
  • In any case, however, make sure that you provide me with a hard copy of your presentation at least in outline form, but preferably in its full form.

Max Aldrich

Casey Thurston

Stephanie Philips

Josh Knorr

Kelin Flanagan

Tyler Justice

  • Presentation evaluations/reviews are worth 3% of your grade.
  • If your name appears in this column, you are reviewing a presentation in class on 2/22.
  • Reviews are due to me by e-mail on 2/27.
  • Reviews consist of your commentary on the following:
  • Preliminaries: Your name, the name of the person whose presentation you are evaluating, the date of the presentation, the title or topic of the presentation.
  • Section 1: Clarity and accuracy of presentation of position(s) of the philosopher or philosophers who are the topic of the presentation.
  • Section 2: Clarity and critical ability evidenced in the presentation regarding the presenter's own position.
  • Section 3: General comments on format of the presentation, organization, and any other issues you wish to include.
  • Your evaluation of another person's presentation should be approximately 1-2 pages in length.

REVIEWERS:

Shipley reviews Aldrich

Windle Reviews Thurston

Villadolid reviews Philips

Kelly reviews Knorr

Hampton reviews Flanagan

Dalessio reviews Justice

Aristotle's Doctrine of the Mean (Ethics). Does it apply to all virtues? Is it practical?

 

One of Aquinas's 5 arguments for God's existence. Does it prove God's existence sufficiently?  

 

Plato's Republic as a utopian society. Is it possible to combine his concepts in this realm with sympathy for people who are ill or disabled? Is our society the best possible society on a Platonic view?

 

Nagel on Atheism. Is atheism a defensible position to hold?

 

Seinfeld and Socrates. See http://www.film-philosophy.com/2006v10n3/vassar.pdf

 

Plato/Socrates on the nature of justice. Does the concept of justice in the Republic really capture the essence of justice as you understand it?

 

Epicurus on death. Does his view that death is nothing, and that it is therefore nothing to be feared, make sense given your view of human nature and desire?

 

 Swinburne or Cahn on the nature of evil. Do you agree with Swinburne regarding the reason(s) that God allows evil to exist? Or, do you agree with Cahn's account of the Moriarty hypothesis? Why or why not?

 
 
Essay 3's Related Presentation Topics and Due Dates/Reviewers -- Papers/Essays are due on April 5

 

 

  • Presentations are worth 7% of your grade.
  • Check below by your name to see the dates and topics of presentations. The first round of assignments of topics, presentations, and review will be done in class on March 22. If you are a person who is not in class on 3/22, then let me know by March 27th your preferences for 3 topics in rank order that you would like to have assigned to you. I will do my best to assign you to a topic you prefer. What you choose will also be your paper topic, but papers have a due date that is different from presentations.
  • Presentations should be no more than 6-8 minutes in length plus 2-4 minutes discussion/question time.
  • Use PowerPoint or Word, or some other kind of software (if you wish to do your presentation using technology) to create your presentation. There is a document camera in the room, so if you have prepared some kind of diagram, you can project it on the screen. If you want simply to do a lecture-style presentation, that is fine as well, but be sure to illustrate some aspect(s) of your presentation using the white board, the computer, or the document camera.
  • In any case, however, make sure that you provide me with a hard copy of your presentation at least in outline form, but preferably in its full form.
  • Presentation evaluations/reviews are worth 3% of your grade.
  • If your name appears in this column, you are reviewing a presentation in class on the date indicated.
  • Reviews are due to me by e-mail 2 class meeting days after the presentation.
  • Reviews consist of your commentary on the following:
  • Preliminaries: Your name, the name of the person whose presentation you are evaluating, the date of the presentation, the title or topic of the presentation.
  • Section 1: Clarity and accuracy of presentation of position(s) of the philosopher or philosophers who are the topic of the presentation.
  • Section 2: Clarity and critical ability evidenced in the presentation regarding the presenter's own position.
  • Section 3: General comments on format of the presentation, organization, and any other issues you wish to include.
  • Your evaluation of another person's presentation should be approximately 1-2 pages in length.

Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Free Will & Determinism

 Villadolid, Shipley, Kelly, Dalessio, Estoch, Kumrah, Moreland

Wrend, Tyrlik, Philips, Windle, Cardinale, Luebbert, Plamondon
Hobbes

 3/27 Presentation Date -- T. Shipley, S. Kelly

4/3 review due date -- P. Plamondon , M. Tyrlik
No class

 
Locke; Berkeley

 4/3 Presentation Date -- P. Kumrah, C. Estoch;

4/10 review due date -- R. Cardinale , N. Wrend

Berkeley

 4/5 Presentation Date --R. Moreland

4/12 review due date -- L. Windle
Hume; and Free Will & Determinism 4/5 Prsentation Date -- J. Villadolid; L. Dalessio 4/12 review due date -- C. Luebbert; Philips
     
Essay 4's Related Presentation Topics and Due Dates/Reviewers Papers/Essays are due on April 19th  

 Kant, Marx, Mill, Nietzsche

 Wrend, Windle, Hampton, Tyrlik, Cardinale, Luebbert, Plamondon

 Aldrich, Flanagan, Justice, Knorr, Estoch, Kumrah, Moreland
Kant

 4/10 Presentation Date -- N. Wrend, M. Tyrlik

4/17 review due date -- K. Flanagan, M. Aldrich
Marx

4/12  Presentation Date -- L. Windle

4/19 review due date -- C. Estoch
Mill

4/17  Presentation Date -- P. Plamondon, Luebbert

4/24 review due date -- J. Knorr, R. Moreland

Nietzsche 

4/19  Presentation Date -- A. Hampton

4/24 review due date -- T. Justice