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PHI 2010: Introduction to Philosophy
Syllabus - Summer B 2002
This syllabus is under construction through June 17, 2002
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Dr. Nancy A. Stanlick |
Office Hours: Mon-Thurs, 1:00-1:45 |
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Office: CNH 411-1/Phone: 407-823-5459 |
Dept. Office: 407-823-2273 |
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e-mail: stanlick@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu |
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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, theories of value 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
Three examinations and (possible) occasional quizzes determine your grade for the course. Quizzes (if given) will count for no more than 19% of your final grade. Examinations are of equal value. 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 them. Make-up quizzes and examinations are given only with appropriate, legitimate, and verifiable reasons. The lowest quiz grade will be "dropped" and then re-added as full credit. No examination grade is dropped. They all count. THERE IS NO EXTRA CREDIT OFFERED OR AVAILABLE IN THIS COURSE. If you miss a quiz or examination and do so for a good, legitimate and verifiable reason, the quiz or test must be made up within 3 class meeting days of its initial administration (excluding quizzes or examinations given at the end of the semester. These cannot be made up due to time constraints. There is no provision for making up the final examination, so don't miss it).
Grading scale: A, 95-100; A-, 90-94.x; B+, 87-89.x; B, 84-86.x; B-, 80-83.x; C+, 77-79.x; C, 74-76.x; C-, 70-73.x; D+, 67-69.x; D, 64-66.x; D-, 60-63.x; F, 0-59.x. Incomplete grades are assigned only in cases of extreme or severe hardship and are subject to conditions as appropriate. Grades are based on numerical scores only.
Plagiarism of any kind is a violation of the "Golden Rule" as published in the UCF Undergraduate Catalog. Academic honesty and integrity are expected of everyone all the time. See the link to academic integrity .
Attendance is strongly encouraged and expected, but it is not considered in determining your grade for the course. You do not get "credit" for showing up for class - being in class, one would think, is a given. Much of the material covered in class may not appear in the text or on the lecture notes in the web site. If you miss a class, you are responsible for obtaining notes and information you may have missed. Office hours are not held to repeat lectures already given in class. They are held to clarify points and provide assistance, and generally to attend to academic matters relevant to this course.
Texts
Texts for this course are the following original philosophical works by
six major figures in the history of philosophy:
1. Plato, The
Trial and Death of Socrates, including Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito,
Hackett Publishing Company, 58 pages.
2. Epictetus,
Enchiridion, Prometheus Books, 45 pages.
3. Rene Descartes,
Meditations on First Philosophy, Third Edition, Hackett Publishing
Company, 59 pages.
4. Immanuel Kant,
Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Hackett Publishing Company,
67 pages.
5. John Stuart Mill,
Utilitarianism, Second Edition, Hackett Publishing Company, 64 pages.
6. William James, Essays in Pragmatism, edited by Alburey Castell, 176 pages.
Other works will be available online as needed and links will be provided
in this online syllabus. As of June
15, 2002, you will need the online versions of Aristotle’s
Nicomachean Ethics, Thomas Hobbes’s
Leviathan, and Charles Sanders Peirce’s “The Fixation of Belief”.
Schedule and
Information about On-line Notes and Reviews
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 can 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. The message board administrator
does not screen messages as they are posted, so be decent and civilized
and don't post anything inappropriate. I do not usually engage in discussions
or read all posted messages, but the board is regularly checked and maintained.
All official course information will be posted in this on-line syllabus.
Schedule:
Notes: The schedule below is meant only as a guide. Changes, additions, deletions 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 the electronic document 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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Dates/Weeks |
Topics |
Lecture Notes |
Review Questions |
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T June 18 |
Introductory Background -- Some basics about major branches of philosophy, philosophical problems, terminology, and an overview of course requirements. |
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June 19 |
Plato - Euthyphro , Apology & Crito and additional
information and works available on line or in class. Problems included are the nature, goals and scope of philosophical inquiry, the divine command theory of ethics, a defense of the philosophical (examined) life, our obigations to the self, others and the state. |
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June 20 |
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M June 24 |
Epictetus, Enchiridion preceded by Aristotle's Nicomachean
Ethics, Books I-III (on-line availability). See the link at the top
of the syllabus (Electronic books) or
http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/projects/digitexts/aristotle/nicomachean_ethics/title.html
Topics and problems included are virtue theory in ethics, the doctrine of the mean, moral responsibility, and the relationship between the individual and the state. |
Epictetus – TBA |
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June 25 |
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June 26 |
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June 27 |
Test 1 |
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M July 1 |
Descartes, Meditations I-II Included are questions of philosophical and scientific method, a criterion of truth, and a general introduction to modern philosophy. |
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July 2 |
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July 3 |
Descartes, Meditations III-VI Topics include arguments for the existence of God, the problem of error (evil), and mind-body dualism. |
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July 4-Holiday |
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M July 8 |
Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals preceded
by Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan, Chapters 11, 13-16 and 18 and Locke’s
Second Treatise of Government
, Chapters 1-5 (available on-line). Topics include egoism (self-interest), social contract theory, the origins of morality (ethics) and the state, the roles of reason and emotion in ethical inquiry, human dignity and self-respect. |
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July 9 |
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July 10 |
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July 11 |
Test 2 - Moved to July 15th - content: Epicurus, Descartes, Hobbes, and Locke. Kant moves to the content of test 3. |
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M July 15 |
Mill, Utilitarianism Topics included are the relationship between ethics and happiness, the justification of the principle of utility, and application of the theory. |
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July 16 |
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July 17 |
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July 18 |
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M July 22 |
James, Essays in Pragmatism preceded by Charles Sanders
Peirce's 'The Fixation of Belief' (available on-line). Topics include AMERICAN PRAGMATISM as a method of inquiry, the justification of religious belief, free will and determinism, and the meaning of the moral life. |
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July 23 |
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July 24 |
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July 25 |
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July 29 |
Test 3 |
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