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Dr. Nancy
A. Stanlick |
Department
Office: 407-823-2273 |
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Office: CNH
411-I/Phone:407-823-5459 |
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Hours: MWF
9:15-10:00, MW 2:00-2:45 & by appointment |
Course Description and Objective
: PHI 2010 is an historical,
problem-oriented introduction to philosophy encompassing major areas of philosophical
inquiry. Topics include the nature of reality, arguments for the existence
of God, the problem of evil, egoism, major theories of ethics, political philosophy,
and the nature of knowledge. The objective of the course is at least twofold.
First, you will have a solid introduction to philosophical problems and arguments.
Second, the development and enhancement of critical and analytical skills
is a major focal point. Remember that philosophy is not simply about listing
and remembering facts. It is about analyzing positions, understanding them
in their historical and cultural contexts, and being able to deal with, discuss,
and compare diverse ideas, theories, and principles.
Requirements and Grades:
Four examinations and occasional quizzes or assignments, or both quizzes
and assignments, determine your grade for the course. Tests count as 20%
of your grade each. Quizzes collectively count as 20%. The lowest quiz grade
will be dropped, but NO test grade is dropped. Quizzes can and will be given
at any time with or without prior notice. It is up to you to be sure to be
in class to take quizzes and tests, and to be present for assignments of
any kind. Make-up quizzes, tests, and assignments are given only with good,
legitimate, and verifiable reasons. Any late quizzes, tests or assignments
must be made up within three class meeting days of their initial administration.
THERE IS NO EXTRA CREDIT OFFERED OR AVAILABLE IN THIS COURSE.
Grades and Grading Scale:
Grades are based on the following numerical values and are assigned using
the +/- grading system.
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A = 95-100 |
C = 74-76 |
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A- = 90-95 |
C- = 70-73 |
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B+ = 87-89 |
D+ = 67-69 |
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B = 84-86 |
D = 64-66 |
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B- = 80-83 |
D- = 60-63 |
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C+ = 77-79 |
F = 0-59 |
Incomplete grades are assigned only in cases of severe or extreme hardship
and are subject to conditions as appropriate. “NC” grades are NOT available
for this course.
Plagiarism/cheating is a violation of the “Golden Rule” as published in
the UCF Catalog. Academic honesty and integrity are expected of everyone
all the time. Violations of academic integrity will be dealt with as appropriate.
See the link to
academic integrity
as well as the UCF website for information on the “Golden Rule.”Common
courtesy is expected at all times.Wandering in late is disruptive and impolite.So
are ringing telephones and screeching beepers.Please turn them off or set
them to a silent alarm.I prefer that you not record lectures.
Attendance is strongly encouraged and expected, but it is not “counted”
in determining your grade for the course. That is, you don’t get credit for
showing up for class. Being in class is, one would think, a given. Nonetheless,
you are responsible for being in class and for any quizzes, tests, or assignments
that you miss. Much of the material covered in class may not appear in the
text or in the notes in this website. If you miss a class, you are responsible
for obtaining any notes or information you missed. Office hours are not held
to repeat lectures already given in class. They are held to clarify points
and provide assistance, and otherwise to attend to academic matters relevant
to this course.If a test or assignment falls on a day of religious observance
in which you participate, you must provide at least two weeks’ advance notice
in writing to be able to make up any missing test or assignment.
Text: The text for
this course is an anthology designed specifically for this class and is
published by Prentice-Hall. Its title is Symposia: Readings in Philosophy
. In addition, there are works required for the course that are available
online. If, for some reason, you are not able to use the works appearing
online that are listed in the schedule below, you can read them in hard
copy form in the UCF Library.
Schedule and Information about On-line Notes and Review Questions:
This syllabus is available on-line only. You may (and should) print it for
future reference and for cases in which you do not have access to a computer.
The on-line syllabus undergoes regular changes, additions and deletions, so
it is important that you check this document regularly to be sure you are
keeping up with the schedule. It is often the case that notes and review questions
are provided on-line as links in the syllabus, but lecture notes are not
always complete as they appear online and will be augmented in class. A
message board for on-line review and discussion is also given as a link. You
should use the message board for posting questions to other people registered
in this course and for studying for quizzes and tests. You will probably
find it very useful.
When posting questions or messages on the message board, use either your
"real" name or a screen-name by which you may be identified by others. Anonymous
postings are not always helpful. Messages are not edited or screened as they
are posted, so be decent and civilized and don't post anything inappropriate.
I do not necessarily engage in discussions or read all posted messages, but
the board is regularly checked and maintained.
Schedule:
Notes: The schedule below is meant only as a guide. Changes and alterations
in the schedule, scheduled examinations, quizzes, readings, and other information
may be made from time to time to ensure completion of all major sections listed
below.
If a work required for the course does not appear in the text, a link to
electronic documents will be provided in the schedule.
Review questions are designed for review of major
theories, issues, problems, etc., and do not necessarily reflect the content,
format or number of actual test questions.
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Topics |
Page Numbers, Readings/Other |
Lecture Notes |
Review Questions |
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8/20 |
Introductory Meeting |
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8/22-8/24 |
Plato’s Euthyphro and Apology |
1-25 |
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8/27-9/19 |
Topics in the Philosophy of Religion and Metaphysics |
Non-Philosophical Arguments
for God’s Existence and Characteristics of an Ultimate Being -
in-class and on-line only. |
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The Ontological Argument, 26-33 |
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The Cosmological Argument, 34-44 |
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The Teleological Argument, 45-50 |
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The Value of Proofs for God’s Existence (51-57), and the Rationality
of Religious Faith from Pascal’s Wager (in-class and online notes only)
and William James’s “The Will to Believe” (
on-line text
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The Immortality of the Soul in Plato’s Phaedo, 58-67 |
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TEST 1
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9/24-10/15 |
Metaphysics and Epistemology |
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10/24 |
TEST 2
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10/26-11/9 |
Ethics
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11/19 |
TEST 3
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11/16-12/3 |
Social and Political Philosophy |
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12/5 |
TEST 4 (FINAL) from
10:00-11:30 a.m. (Official time is 10:00-12:50 on that
day – actual time is listed above) |
This document was last updated on 12/02/2001. Updates are made regularly.